ECU recognized for graduates headed to family medicine

GREENVILLE, N.C.   (June 5, 2002)   —   The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University was the top medical school among 17 schools recently recognized for success in making family practice a top choice among graduating medical students. 

The American Academy of Family Physicians presented the awards during this year”s annual meeting of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine April 27-May 1 in San Francisco.

The awards were created to promote the goal of having 25 percent of graduates in accredited U.S. medical schools enter the specialty of family practice.

“I am very blessed to be part of a Medical School that has remained true to its stated mission,” said Dr. Dean Patton, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine. “We prepare medical students to enter careers in primary care, and especially, family practice. This year’s award is based upon the average percentage of students entering family practice residency training from the graduating classes of the last three years.”

ECU earned one of four silver awards, which means the school graduated a three-year average of 25-29.9 percent of medical students into first-year positions in family practice residency programs. ECU ranked first in the total listing with 27.1 percent of its graduates headed into a family medicine residency program in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Gold awards are given to medical schools having 30 percent or more of their medical students heading into family practice. No school earned the award this year. Thirteen medical schools earned bronze awards for graduating a three-year average of 20 to 24.9 percent of medical students into first-year positions in family practice residency.

ECU also earned a silver award last year.