Intermountain Health Population Health Student Scholar's Program
The Intermountain Health Population Health Student Scholars program is a collaborative medical education program developed between the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah and Intermountain Health. You can read more about the program here.
Program Mission
The mission of this initiative is to improve the health and well-being for the people of Utah and the Intermountain West by training the next generation of physicians to deliver care using an innovative and robust population health framework. This program provides students a comprehensive education focused on delivering population-oriented healthcare, with a specific focus on preventative, high-quality, affordable care, centered in local communities and targeting the prevention of disease and restoration of health.
Program Overview
Selected Scholars participate in the program throughout their 4 years of medical school and stay in contact with the program throughout residency. While in medical school, Scholars are expected to complete a Graduate Certificate in Population Health Sciences. This certificate provides population health curriculum and experiential learning opportunities to facilitate an understanding of the foundational concepts needed to implement a population health framework as a practicing physician. Scholars will receive 50% of their tuition and fees (at a UT resident rate) covered in the form of a forgivable loan for their participation in the program.
Additionally, scholars participate in program learning experiences and enrichment activities with Intermountain Health, including shadowing, Intermountain physician mentorship, and clinical rotations in an effort to provide first hand experience of what it's like to practice at Intermountain Healthcare.
Upon completion of medical school, scholars are expected to specialize in one (1) of six (6) population health specialties: Family Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Internal Medicine. Scholars can pursue residency at any program that fits their career goals and ambitions. Upon completion of residency, scholars will be offered an employment opportunity with Intermountain Health. For each one (1) year of employment as an Intermountain Health physician, one (1) year of the forgivable loan will be forgiven, with four (4) years of employment for the entire loan to be forgiven. Through their training, Scholars will be able to practice and implement their knowledge of population health to ensure individuals are receiving the highest quality care possible contributing to the better overall health of the communities they serve.
Program Components
The programs is comprised of four (4) main components: financial assistance, curriculum, mentorship and program activities, residency and employment. You can read more about each component below.
Through substantial financial contributions made by Intermountain Health, participants of the program receive a forgivable loan that covers 50% of tuition and fees (at a Utah resident rate) through four (4) years of medical school. If the scholar returns to practice at Intermountain Healthcare and completes the work obligation of the program, their loan will be forgiven in entirety.
Scholars are expected to complete a Graduate Certificate in Population Health Sciences during their 4 years of medical school. This certificate requires students to participate in population health coursework, experiential learning, and complete a population health capstone project. This is a unique opportunity to learn foundational population health related knowledge and skills and something the student can highlight as they begin applying to residency programs.
Scholars will be paired with Intermountain Health physician mentors. The focus of this mentorship component is on professional development, networking, and providing scholars first-hand experience of working for Intermountain Health.
Additionally, there are a variety of program activities that are offered to participants. This includes annual large group events with leadership from Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health, monthly cohort meetings, population health seminars, shadowing, and clinical rotation opportunities. Scholars will have the opportunity to get involved in projects related specifically related to Intermountain Health Community Health Initiatives, Select Health, Castell, and Precision Genomics.
Upon completion of medical school, it is expected that participants will pursue residency in one (1) of six (6) population health specialties: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Ob/Gyn, General Surgery, Psychiatry, or Pediatrics. Upon successful completion of their residency program, scholars will be guaranteed an employment opportunity with Intermountain Health at one of their many world class locations.
