The next generation of doctors began its training today at the state’s brand new $100 million medical school – the Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.
The school received 2,000 applications for this year’s 60 students, including Erin White, who wasn’t worried about the school’s lack of a track record.
“The faculty here were hired for their teaching skills, whereas at most medical schools they’re hired to do research,” said White.
Casey Rosenthal, like White, moved from California to be part of the inaugural class.
“There was no other school like this. Just the energy of the faculty and the staff,” said Rosenthal.
The students in the first class will attend medical school in a state-of-the-art facility with simulation laboratories, examination and patient assessment rooms, high-tech classrooms, operating rooms, and electronic resources that enable them to access the information they’ll need around the clock.
“We had a clean slate. We had no traditions, no silos. We could build whatever we wanted,” said Dr. Bruce Koeppen, the school’s Founding Dean.
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The goal is to train the next generation of doctors to collaborate with each other more than physicians in the past.
“When they get into the workforce, they’re ready to work as a team for the care of the patients,” said Dr. Koeppen.
Dr. Koeppen says the new medical school is necessary, both for a state and a nation facing millions of new baby boomers needing more medical care, combined with a wave of retiring baby boomer doctors.
“There’s something really exciting about being in on the ground floor,” said Koeppen.
The medical school is named after Frank Netter, a renowned illustrator of medical texts known as the Michelangelo of his profession.
The school has formed clinical partnerships with Waterbury Hospital, St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Middlesex Hospital, MidState Medical Center in Meriden and Jewish Senior Services in Fairfield. Hartford Hospital is a research partner.
The school received 1,000 applications for its 22 full-time faculty spots.
Next year’s student applications are already up to 3,500.
