Kingsport - ETSU Says Proposed New Medical School May Be Detrimental (Memphis: home, elementary school)

[jabogitlu]

KINGSPORT — East Tennessee State University officials on Monday outlined the potential impact a proposed King College Medical School would have on the Quillen College of Medicine, saying the risk to the university and medical school is significant.

King College outlined earlier this year its vision of creating a $150 million school of medicine in Kingsport and Bristol by 2012. The new school would have two aspects — medical education and research — and integrate the university’s nursing programs, which are already located in downtown Kingsport.

Wellmont Health System has agreed to be King’s primary clinical partner in the endeavor.

College officials say proposed Kingsport medical school could hurt ETSU - Kingsport Times-News Online

[rccrain]

As a graduate of both schools, I believe the competition can only make both schools stronger and the quality of health care in this region better.

[jabogitlu]

I'll freely admit that I don't know enough about the subject, rotations and populations and etc, to know if it will help or hurt. (Beyond the factor of competition, of course.)

But it sounds an awful lot like the stonewalling that occured in '71 when people said east TN didn't need a medical school.

[mbmouse]

Well, I am not sure about any of the government financial backing for the interns and rotation Dr's and such, but I do know there is a shortage of Dr's and medical researchers in the country as a whole. I think any colleges with specialties to the medical field is a HUGE benefit to our kids in high and elementary school now. Many more will have the opportunity to study medicine here, at home which is always a cost saver, big time, when it comes to the cost of higher education. If I am not mistaken, Quillins classes fill up quick, which shows that we do need another medical education facility in the region.

[jchometeam]

I also do not pretend to know enough about the medical school to have a solid opinion, ill just say one word of caution about competition among colleges:

Way too often the mindset of a student is "if I can get the same degree at the end of my time, which school can I more easily get through".

So I am for two medical schools IF it does not result in a decrease in the quality of education. If ETSU uses this as a chance to become MORE elite with their admission process, with those that would normally be admitted to ETSU going to King, this could be a good move.

[mbmouse]

Correct me if I am wrong here, but historically isn't King considered a more "exclusive/elite" college than ETSU?

[jchometeam]

I wasnt saying that, I think ETSU in general lets WAY too many people enroll. Some departments at ETSU suffer from that. But ETSU's medical school has a great reputation that I dont expect King to be able to "compete" with. I just suggested that this might be a good opportunity for ETSU to increase their standards even more for admissions thus the "elite" comment.

[jabogitlu]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Correct me if I am wrong here, but historically isn't King considered a more "exclusive/elite" college than ETSU?

I wouldn't think so. King requires a 2.6 and a 19 ACT. ETSU requires at 2.3 or a 19. Hardly competitive schools. Just because King is smaller and private (aka costs more...) doesn't give it a more exclusive status.

If anything, I would say that ETSU's larger student base and funding gives its students many more opportunities.

As far as community perception goes, I'm not sure. I've never really talked to anyone about King vs. ETSU.

[JakilaTheHun]

What percentage of Quillen College of Medicine students are actually from NE Tennessee? I imagine there are a lot of people who are local, but it is one of the best primary practice medical colleges in the nation, so I'm guessing ETSU attracts people from all over the state and all over the country, as well. (Even internationally, for that matter). I know for a fact that when I took Biology at ETSU (a decade ago! I'm getting old!), I had pre-med students from places like Memphis, Atlanta, Illinois, and upstate New York in my class.

I don't know that this really hurts ETSU. My guess as to why they are complaining is because of the idiotic methods that many of these college ranking services use (e.g. US News & World Report). Oftentimes, GPAs and test scores (MCAT?) are key components used for those rankings, which is kind of silly because the quality of the education is related to the faculty and program, more than the admitted students. After all, the students are the ones receiving the education!

In any case, what this probably means is that a few of the top-notch candidates that would've gone to ETSU, now decide to go to King instead. This lowers ETSU's average GPA and MCAT score for the purposes of some of those ranking systems.

Honestly, I'm unsure why the King program is necessary. Not to put the Tri-Cities down, but the region is lucky to have one of the best medical colleges in the nation located in it, as is. Why two? It seems like other regions of the state would be more in need of a medical school.

That said, I still don't think it hurts the region; it probably helps if anything. It also might be targeted more at SW Virginians who don't have the option to get in-state tuition at ETSU. I think most people who are worried about "prestige" and want to be associated with a "name" medical college are still going to pick ETSU over King.

[jchometeam]

Exactly, I dont think there will be much competition between ETSU and King. As long as there are plenty of residency opportunities for both schools, it shouldnt be a problem. If this move will stretch the local residency opportunities for the ETSU medical school, I would probably be against this move.