Undergraduate medical education

Article Abstract:

Medical education during the 1980s was a period of reevaluation. Several important studies have been published that call for changes in both the process of education and its structure. Although curriculum changes, including the use of small groups, self-teaching, and computer-assisted education, have been adopted in many schools, it remains unclear whether these changes have had any important impact on the quality of medical school graduates. During the year 1989-1990 the number of students applying to American medical schools increased for the first time since 1985, with the number of freshman medical students enrolled in the country's medical schools totaling 16,975. Although the number of ''A'' students decreased, there has been no erosion in scores on the Medical College Admission Test. The average medical student has a 3.42 grade point average; 86.9 percent of students had a Baccalaureate degree and 8.5 percent had a masters or doctoral degree. The demographic make-up of medical student shows a continuing decline in white males and a concomitant increase in black and Asian woman. During the 1988-89 academic year 1.6 percent of all students either left or were dismissed from professional school. Of first-year students, 14.9 percent of blacks, 13.2 percent of Native Americans, 9.6 percent of Mexican-Americans and 2.8 percent of other students were forced to repeat all or part of the first year; this reflects an effort to retain students having academic difficulty. A faculty of 72,320 is engaged in educating a total student population of 65,081, representing a continuing decline. Of the projected 15,433 students who will graduate during 1990, 48 percent have accepted residency in primary care specialties. In 1990 the National Board of Medical Examiners will provide a single licensing examination for all individuals to practice within the United States. This marks a change in that graduates of foreign medical schools were previously required to fulfill other requirements and examinations before they were licensed to practice in the United States. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Standards, Medical students, Demographic aspects

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Undergraduate medical education

Article Abstract:

The yearly statistical evaluation of undergraduate medical education is presented by the American Medical Association. The study details the numbers of students in medicine and in the sciences which are basic to medicine. Statistical analysis of the medical student demographics is included. During the past year, the number of full-time faculty at medical schools increased by four percent, continuing the trend of the last several years. The number of unfilled, funded academic positions in the basic sciences varies from 3.74 to 5.6 percent. Among the clinical sciences, orthopedics has the highest unfilled rate. Currently, there are 14,832 full-time basic science and 55,476 clinical science medical positions in the US. In addition, there are 8,843 part time and 120,788 volunteer clinical faculty members. For the 1988-89 academic year there were 26,721 applicants for medical school and 65,150 medical students enrolled in 127 domestic medical schools. This is a decrease of 592 over the prior year. Other findings include the demographics of the medical school student population, which have changed over the last five years. The number of white non-Hispanic males has decreased 12.5 percent, while the number of Afro-American non-Hispanic males has increased 2.7 percent and the number of white non-Hispanic females has decreased 0.1 percent. There was a steady increase in the number of female applicants until 1985-86, when the number began to decline, but the number of women actually entering medical school continues to rise and is presently 37 percent. The number of Asian/Pacific Islander males is up by 103.6 percent and 121 percent for females. Seventy percent of the students are residents of the state in which their school is located. In schools that are identified as 'wholly public,' 87 percent of new students are state residents. Despite the nation's commitment to equal opportunity for all citizens, much needs to be done to open career paths to minorities in medicine.

Research, College admissions, Medical colleges, Medical school admissions, Graduate medical education

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Educational programs in US medical schools

Article Abstract:

Medical education is changing during the 1990s. The growing applicant pool, larger faculties, search for funding for curriculum revision, changes in the National Board of Medical Examiners test and the US Medical Licensing Examination and increased interest in program evaluation all affect the education of doctors. The proportion of women and Asian applicants is rising. Major curriculum changes include changes in the mode of basic science teaching such as small group or problem-based learning and an emphasis on ambulatory care outside the academic health center. Of the 15,466 potential 1992 graduates, 48% selected primary care or obstetrics and gynecology residency programs. Less than half of this group will probably practice primary medicine. The objectives of medical schools and of the admitted students, the curriculum and the needs and demands of the society affect the specialties in which students train and practice.

Models, Physicians, Medical professions, Training, Occupational training

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