Academic Medicine (MACM)

Keith Administration Building 211
1975 Zonal Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 442-3004
Email: academicmedicine@med.usc.edu
Program Director: Julie G. Nyquist, PhD

The Master of Academic Medicine (MACM) is offered by the Keck School of Medicine. The Master of Academic Medicine program’s mission is to cultivate leaders who will develop and advance educational programs for healthcare professions through their roles as teacher, leader, scholar and mentor. These leaders will guide future health care professionals to thrive in their careers as they guide care for diverse patient populations. Academic medicine is defined in broad terms as relating to those who lead training worldwide in medicine or in other health care related fields. Enacting this mission is possible due to the flexible delivery model selected. The 32-unit program employs a model of synchronous online learning in all courses, accompanied by optional annual on-campus face-to-face skill-building workshops for three days each February.

The program addresses the unique population of medical and health professions faculty who are focused on leading the academic enterprise for health professionals at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The curriculum focuses on four roles that faculty and other leaders can play: teacher, leader, scholar and mentor. Our alumni are well prepared to guide future generations of health professionals toward better meeting the health needs of our diverse society and promoting the wellbeing of future providers.

For those with a clear focus on the academic enterprise, a complementary degree in academic medicine offers the specialized skills needed to lead development of enhanced training for health professionals, increases professional capacity, and provides new opportunity for promotion. The audiences for this degree are current and future leaders in health professions education, e.g., education fellows, Associate Program Directors, Program Directors and Designated Institutional Officers. Matriculants typically have primary professional degrees in health fields (e.g., MD, DDS, DPT, RN, MSN, PA, DVM, DO, PharmD, DC, DOM). The Master of Academic Medicine will provide the needed complementary training for clinician educators.

Admission

Applicants for admission to the Master of Academic Medicine program are generally expected to have an advanced or professional degree, typically in medicine or another healthcare profession. Official transcripts from all institutions will need to be submitted. Proof of graduation is required. For all applicants, an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) is expected and three letters of recommendation are required.

Students can be admitted to begin the program in Fall, Summer or Spring. Inquiries regarding applications and admission procedures should be made by email to academicmedicine@med.usc.edu or by phone to (323) 442-3004.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified.

A minimum of 32 units of graduate-level course work is required.