BYU is getting a medical school.

[smac97]

Newsweek: New Mormon-Funded Medical School Raises Questions

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Brigham Young University (BYU) is launching a medical school, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said on Monday. But the announcement has raised questions.
...

The school will focus on "international health issues affecting members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and the church's "worldwide humanitarian efforts," the university added.

It is not clear what "areas of strategic importance to the church" entails. Newsweek has contacted Brigham Young University for comment.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has historically opposed abortion but has deemed birth control a personal choice.

Daniel Sulmasy, director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics and a professor of medicine and philosophy at Georgetown University, told The Salt Lake Tribune that he expects BYU's medical school to address the topic of abortion, approaching it in a similar way as his Catholic institution.

At Georgetown, students are instructed on abortion in the classroom, but there is no physical instruction on it, meaning the procedures are not performed or observed by students in any capacity.

"We teach people what an abortion is because people need to know that," he said. "They need to know what the consequences could be if someone has a complication."

He added that abortion is taught but not endorsed.

"I think that's the same kind of thing that would happen at a place like BYU," Sulmasy said.

It is unclear if BYU will provide LGBTQ+-specific health care. The accreditation requirements say students should be taught to be accepting of diversity within the field. It makes no mention of the LGBTQ+ community.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Calm]

22 hours ago, smac97 said:

Newsweek: New Mormon-Funded Medical School Raises Questions

Thanks,

-Smac

If the focus is more on medical field work, that pretty much skips over medical gender affirming care (outside of being emotionally supportive and directing those who desire it to possible providers), which would be only accessible to those with significant funds or good insurance to pay for the drugs or surgery or therapy.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has historically opposed abortion but has deemed birth control a personal choice.

Not quite accurate as there are limited cases where it is viewed acceptable.

The abortion question is much more pertinent as they will be doing prenatal and gynecological care, likely birth control in the field and abortions may be common procedures in many places, especially where birth control is not easily accessible.

I don’t see any reason why BYU wouldn’t allow students to perform emergency and health of the mother and fetus abortions, less common than elective, but still occurs.  I assume such abortions occur at IHC hospitals.

Edited August 1, 2024 by Calm

[blackstrap]

Are there not hundreds of other serious healthcare issues worldwide including malnutrition, malaria, clean water, etc., that a medical school could spend time on ? 

[LoudmouthMormon]

An LDS doctor on another forum reminds us abortions are not taught in medical school:

”Abortions are taught in residency.  Specifically an Ob/Gyn residence.  I’ve never seen one done.

Also an abortion is essentially a dilation and curettage.  Which is an extremely common procedure.  Such as cases where a woman has a miscarriage and not all the tissue has been expelled.  Or when parts of the placenta are retained.  Simply dilate the cervix and scrape the interior sides of the uterus.

I work in a hospital that is loosely associated with the Catholic Church.  I see D&C on the surgery schedule all the time.  I suspect that occasionally it is for an abortion.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilation_and_curettage

Years ago after the birth of our first child, my wife needed a D&C because she retained some placenta.  Basically the same procedure as an abortion, except there was no baby involved.

Edited August 1, 2024 by LoudmouthMormon

[Rain]

19 minutes ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

An LDS doctor on another forum reminds us abortions are not taught in medical school:

”Abortions are taught in residency.  Specifically an Ob/Gyn residence.  I’ve never seen one done.

I wonder how old the doctor is and if that is still true with younger generations.  My youngest had a 4th grade teacher that was actually an intern from BYU. My daughter studied human cadavers her sophomore or junior year in college. She later did occupational therapy assistant work as an intern while getting her associates (she got a BS and then an associates). My husband works with college interns through his work. It seems to me that younger generations are getting much more hands on training in just college so it wouldn't surprise me if they are getting more of it in med school too.

It might be specialized, but many programs now allow or require specialization.

19 minutes ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

Also an abortion is essentially a dilation and curettage.  Which is an extremely common procedure.  Such as cases where a woman has a miscarriage and not all the tissue has been expelled.  Or when parts of the placenta are retained.  Simply dilate the cervix and scrape the interior sides of the uterus.

I work in a hospital that is loosely associated with the Catholic Church.  I see D&C on the surgery schedule all the time.  I suspect that occasionally it is for an abortion.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilation_and_curettage

Years ago after the birth of our first child, my wife needed a D&C because she retained some placenta.  Basically the same procedure as an abortion, except there was no baby involved.

 

Edited August 1, 2024 by Rain

[jcake]

Recently, I attended a HS reunion where a classmate, who has been a professor/cardiologist, at  UC San Diego medical school,  told us he had come to work in our area.  Now I wonder if he will be involved.

[smac97]

An Update: BYU Medical School Update

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Dear Members of the BYU Campus Community,

Most of you know that in late July the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the decision to create a medical school at BYU. As plans continue to develop, I would like to provide the campus community with some updated information.  

BYU’s future medical school will provide a high quality, spiritually-based program that reinforces the mission of BYU and of the Church.  The medical school will offer a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD). While the work of developing curriculum takes time, we are exploring innovative approaches aimed at reducing graduation times and costs for students.

"Reducing graduation times and costs for students."

Very cool.

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The new medical school building will be located on BYU’s campus here in Provo. The location will include classroom instruction and an administrative center. Clinical training will happen in multiple off-site hospital locations. 

Utah Valley Hospital, a 395-bed, full-service, Level II Trauma hospital, is a stone's throw from BYU.  I suspect it will facilitate a lot of clinical training.

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Conversations between Intermountain Health, the University of Utah, and others have been productive regarding the prospect of clinical collaborations. 

The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine opened fairly recently in Provo as well.  

I am not well-versed on the substantive differences between a DO and a DM.  Can anyone clarify? 

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BYU’s medical school will focus on teaching and training with research in areas of strategic importance to the Church, including international health issues affecting members of the Church and the Church’s worldwide humanitarian efforts.

I very much like the international aspect to this school. 

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Significant energy is being devoted to developing and solidifying the plans related to BYU’s new medical school, including the establishment of a medical advisory team.

Jesus Christ healed the sick and served those in need. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe BYU’s medical school is another way to lift God’s children. I appreciate the enthusiasm and outpouring of support for this exciting endeavor.
                                                                                
Sincerely,
President C. Shane Reese
Brigham Young University
September 5, 2024

Go, BYU!  Go Church!

Thanks,

-Smac

[Ginger Snaps]

9 hours ago, smac97 said:

 

The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine opened fairly recently in Provo as well.  

I am not well-versed on the substantive differences between a DO and a DM.  Can anyone clarify? 

 

MDs and DOs receive nearly identical training. DOs get some additional training in osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT), which very few of them use out in the real world because insurance doesn’t reimburse well for it.  Some people will tell you that DOs tend to take a more holistic approach as well. At the end of the day, the initials matter very little. They’re both fully qualified doctors. 

[Dario_M]

Yes! More nurses and doctors for Salt Lake City. The healthcare system is really a thing you know. 

[ZealouslyStriving]

https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2024/10/10/byu-medical-school-first-dean-mark-ott/?utm_campaign=churchnews-en&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social_share

 

[Calm]

44 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2024/10/10/byu-medical-school-first-dean-mark-ott/?utm_campaign=churchnews-en&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social_share

 

Great background, though I am wondering if he has experience in international health issues and humanitarian work.

[Okrahomer]

There were actually 2 appointments to the new medical school: https://news.intermountainhealth.org/dustin-matsumori-dr-mark-ott/

[The Nehor]

On 9/9/2024 at 8:56 PM, Ginger Snaps said:

MDs and DOs receive nearly identical training. DOs get some additional training in osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT), which very few of them use out in the real world because insurance doesn’t reimburse well for it.  Some people will tell you that DOs tend to take a more holistic approach as well. At the end of the day, the initials matter very little. They’re both fully qualified doctors. 

OMT is partially pseudoscience and partially massage therapy with a weird rationalization for it. In general there is no difference unless the DO leans really heavily into those techniques which is rare.