Dr. Wilson stresses role of academic health centers during Medical Education Week

Academic health centers play a crucial role in the American health care system, training doctors and other health professionals and treating the sickest of the sick and the poorest of the poor, Daniel R. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D. said in his first Medical Education Week keynote address in Jacksonville.

Wilson, who started in February as vice president of the University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville and dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, focused his discussion on how UF and other universities fit into the nation’s broader health care landscape.

Only 3 percent of the hospitals in the U.S. are part of academic health centers, but they perform more than a third of all hospital care for the uninsured. They also produce much of the nation’s medical research and train two-thirds of all resident physicians, Wilson said, but are particularly vulnerable as state and federal governments reduce education dollars and payments to care for the uninsured.

"We have some of the best doctors in the state treating some of the sickest patients in the state, without always the regard from the community that is warranted," Wilson said.

In order to earn more recognition in the community, Wilson said the college and the health science center need to build on current strengths and create signature programs where faculty are seen as the go-to authorities on the subject matter.

"We need to look, act and feel like an academic health center," Wilson said.

Wilson’s speech Thursday was part of a weeklong celebration on the Jacksonville campus for Medical Education Week.

He told faculty he’s honored to be leading the campus and looks forward to building on past successes despite some of the financial challenges on the horizon.

"I’m a firm believer in developing present strengths and I am very impressed with the quality of faculty and their dedication to the mission," Wilson said.