Wichita Campus

Community-oriented Education

The University of Kansas School of Medicine — Wichita is a community-oriented medical school. It relies on the cooperation and support of Wichita’s private and public health care institutions and area physicians. A model of community cooperation, the academic program is affiliated with local hospitals, giving students the opportunity to observe and participate with medical staff in the care and supervision of patients. Via Christi Regional Medical Center (St. Francis and St. Joseph campuses), Wesley Medical Center, and the Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center together offer a total licensed-bed capacity of more than 3,000.

Brief History

The KU School of Medicine — Wichita campus was established by the Kansas Board of Regents in 1971, accredited in 1974, and graduated its first class of students in 1975. In 1979, the Kansas Legislature and Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners approved the E.B. Allen Memorial Hospital, 1010 N. Kansas, as the permanent home of the KU School of Medicine — Wichita. A $4.6-million renovation of the original building was completed in 1990, providing a modern facility with 100,000 square feet. In February 1996, construction was completed on the 30,000-square-foot Daniel K. Roberts Center for Research and the Kansas Health Foundation Center for Primary Care.

Academic Program

The KU School of Medicine — Wichita provides education and training for about 120 third- and fourth-year medical students who have completed two years of basic science courses at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. They then elect to complete their education in the clinical program in Wichita. Instruction is offered in seven major disciplines, including family and community medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, preventive medicine, psychiatry, and surgery. Additionally, elective programs are available in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, pathology, and radiology. Medical students are supervised by more than 50 full-time and nearly 60 part-time faculty members. There are also about 700 volunteer faculty members who donate their time to train future doctors.

Master of Public Health

The medical school, in collaboration with the KU School of Medicine — Kansas City, offers instruction leading to a Master of Public Health degree. The program offers opportunities for health care providers and researchers to develop and apply individual and population-based approaches to improving the health of the public. The only program of its type in the region accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, the M.P.H. program tied for second in the nation among public universities, according to the 2006 edition of U.S. News America’s Best Graduate Schools.

Research

Medical research is conducted at the medical school and at affiliated institutions. The school supports and encourages clinical, epidemiologic, health services, and human trials research that promotes the primary mission of education and involves collaboration between departments and community partners to improve the health and health outcomes in Wichita and Kansas. The Office of Research provides collaboration toward high-quality research outcomes. This includes biostatistical and other assistance to researchers in obtaining support for their endeavors. The Office of Research also promotes and monitors ethical and regulatory compliance related to research endeavors. A Research Committee promotes and supports research in the Wichita community and on campus.

United States Medical Licensing

The Wichita campus offers an on-site testing center for USMLE licensure examinations. Step1, Step2 Clinical Knowledge, and Step 3 are the only examinations administered at this site, making it a desirable testing atmosphere. Students from both campuses may complete their licensure examinations at this center. For scheduling information, contact Academic and Student Affairs on the Wichita campus.