Brody School of Medicine Alignment Plan Overview

Brody School of Medicine is the largest single unit within ECU with over $279M in non-state revenue (FY2024).  Brody was established in 1972 with a strong primary care orientation and is first in the state for graduates who practice in NC and who serve medically underserved communities. The BSOM is ranked as a “top medical school” by U.S. News & World Report in primary care, rural medicine, and family medicine. BSOM has 12 clinical departments (inc. Public Health), 8 foundational science departments, 3 Centers and Institutes, and a robust clinical practice plan. Brody offers 4 graduate degree programs (with 5 concentration areas of biomedical sciences), 2 dual degree programs, and the MD professional degree. The current student body includes 320 medical students, 49 PhD candidates, 11 masters students, 120 MPH students, 30 DrPH candidates, 6 certificate candidates, and 7 postdoctoral researchers. The are 411 ECU Health medical residents. and fellows served by BSOM faculty.

Mission

The Brody School of Medicine’s mission is to increase the supply of primary care physicians serving the state, to improve the health and well-being of the region, and to train physicians who will meet the health care needs of the state.

Vision

In partnership with ECU Health, the vision of Brody School of Medicine is to become the national model for rural health an wellness by creating a premier, trusted health care delivery and education system.

Summary of Unit Strategies

M1.1: Strengthen graduation and retention strategies while closing equity gaps to advance opportunity for all.

Develop and implement strategies that support successful completion of Step 1 exam.

  • Revise and reinstate the Clinical Foundation Seminar and make available to ALL students
  • Enhance Office of Student Success and Wellness content review sessions.  Make available to ALL medical students
  • Develop and implement methods for early identification and intervention of students with potential for difficulty with successful completion of Step 1.

M1.2: Expand access to and participation in transformative experiences and experiential learning.

  • Foster and sustain meaningful clinical experiences for BSOM students by increasing the number of primary care community clinical preceptors.
  • Encourage scholarly activity by BSOM students by building and providing a supportive research infrastructure
  • Encourage and support faculty research through the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot program to provide support and mentorship to established and new PI’s for the purpose of improving external grant proposal submissions

M2.2: Grow external sponsorship to support community engagement activities.

  • Seek opportunities to collaborate with community partners and funders to implement pipeline programs that provide academic enrichment and health care exposure to cohorts of learners.

M3.1: Strengthen the regional workforce.

  • Increase regional healthcare workforce

V1.1: Increase enrollment and completion rates of underserved populations through a lens of affordability and accessibility.

  • Facilitate access to medical education through student financial support.

V1.3: Expand curricular and noncurricular workforce development programs aimed at workforce upskilling and reskilling.

  • Provide access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs offered to health professionals in the region.

V2.2: Commit to sustaining an inclusive environment that welcomes a broad representation of persons and perspectives.

  • Adopt/develop and execute an internal survey of BSOM faculty, staff, and learners to identify gaps and deficiencies that create barriers to workplace inclusivity and belonging.
  • Develop and implement action plans that address survey results.

V2.3: Prepare university employees with the knowledge and competencies required for successful career journeys.

  • Prepare junior faculty at BSOM with the knowledge and competencies required for successful career journeys through completion of the Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development Mentoring Advice Program.

V3.2: Expand access to health care and wellness options.

  • Expand access to primary care and other physician services in rural eastern NC by growing the Rural Residency Program
  • Create a seamless academic health care delivery system for people of eastern NC