Medicine is no longer a man's profession; or, when the men's club goes coed it's time to change the regs

Article Abstract:

Alterations to accommodate the changes in the demographic distribution of the medical profession that have occurred in this country in the past two decades have not been forthcoming. The increase in the number of women entering medical school in the last 20 years has rescued the profession from a potential crisis. The lack of male applicants to medical schools has been supplemented by the influx of women, who have been instrumental in maintaining a desirable ratio of applicants to acceptances. Had this not occurred the number of physicians would currently be greatly reduced or the quality of available physicians would have suffered. Problems that have arisen in conjunction with the entry of women into the field have not been properly addressed. Provisions for parental leave and day care and an overall greater flexibility by employers and institutions, especially in academic medicine, are badly needed. Adjustments in qualifications for tenure should be made to accommodate time missed due to childbearing and childrearing. Rather than creating specialized options for women, both men and women should be offered more alternatives in clinical practice as well as in research and teaching positions. Affirmative action targets must be instituted, and a modest proposal would be to increase the number of female tenured faculty from 6.7 percent to 10 percent within three years. The admission of women into the profession has required the restructuring of career paths and options and is long overdue.

Demographic aspects, Women physicians, column, Women in medicine

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G proteins in medicine

Article Abstract:

The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of G (guanine nucleotide-binding) proteins and their function may increase understanding of the development of various inherited diseases caused by genetic mutation. G proteins act as "on" and "off" switches used to signal cells to perform their various functions. Changes in the structure of G proteins may have serious consequences for the body's normal functioning. An example of decreased G protein function may be seen in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism (Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy). The defect may be caused by parent-to-child mutations that disrupt the protein or the synthesis of its messenger RNA. The McCune-Albright syndrome may result from a mutation causing an increase in activity of the G protein. Disruptions in hormone secretion may be caused by changes in either the receptor or effector partners of the G proteins or by other regulating proteins.

Physiological aspects, Cellular signal transduction, G proteins

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The case for internal medicine

Article Abstract:

Fewer medical students are choosing careers in internal medicine and primary care. This may occur because they perceive the work to be unchallenging and uninteresting. Many patients get a complete work-up while they are in the emergency room and already have a treatment plan in place when they are admitted to the wards. Sometimes a physician's assistant takes the patient's medical history to allow the resident to attend to other duties, which may be bureaucratic in nature. Some patients are admitted only to receive a diagnostic procedure performed by a specialist. Possible solutions to these problems include stabilizing patients in the emergency room and admitting them to the wards as soon as possible. The house staff should not be responsible for patients who are admitted only for diagnostic tests. And residents should be encouraged to care for more patients in outpatient clinics.

Training, Career choice, Physicians (General practice), General practitioners, Internists

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