November 16, 2001
AAMC Testifies on Medical Education for Consequences of Weapons of Mass Destruction
AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., testified Nov. 14 before the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the education of medical students and residents to diagnose and treat casualties when weapons of mass destruction are used. Dr. Cohen's statement outlined the AAMC's "First Contact, First Response" plan to ensure the nation's physicians are ready to respond to incidents of biological, chemical or radiological terrorism.
Specifically, Dr. Cohen noted the AAMC's three-level responsibility in the education of physicians - a primary responsibility in medical school; a partnership during residency and fellowship periods; and in collaboration with other health education, medicine, public health and science associations for practicing physicians. These responsibilities will be highlighted at a Nov. 28 event hosted by the AAMC with other health education associations to identify and develop educational and informational resources to aid physicians, residents, and students. Dr. Cohen also focused on the essential role of the VA in both undergraduate and graduate medical education and stressed the value of the VA in the "First Contact, First Response" efforts.
The purpose of the hearing was for Subcommittee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) to receive expert advice as he pushes legislation (H.R. 3254) aimed at establishing a joint education program for medical students and other health professionals between the VA and the Department of Defense based on the existing programs at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). Full Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) also attended the hearing to garner input for his legislation (H.R. 3253) to establish centers of emergency medical preparedness within the VA.
Testifying on behalf of the VA, Deputy Under Secretary for Health Frances Murphy, M.D., MPH, outlined VA's activities related to the education of physicians in this area, including an upcoming conference on weapons of mass destruction, collaborative satellite broadcasts of medical issues related to biological and chemical warfare with the Department of Defense, and dissemination of pocket cards on chemical and biological agents. Dr. Murphy testified that the VA is prepared to be part of a trans-agency effort to formulate an appropriate response. Val Hemming, M.D., dean of USUHS also testified, calling for incorporation of nationally-mandated education and skill objectives in the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) and Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) standards.
J. Edward Hill, M.D., chair-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees, summarized the AMA's activities and policies related to education of physicians for disaster preparedness and recommended re-establishing the Medical Education for National Defense program and adding education and training to the National Disaster Medical System. Martin J. Blaser, M.D., professor and chairman, Department of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, rounded out the witness panels and testified on the roles NYU and the NY Harbor VA Medical Center are prepared play in the event of future bioterrorism-related events. Dr. Blaser highlighted the creation of the VA-NYU Joint Center for Bioterrorism Research and the school's new Center for Health Information and Preparedness (CHIP). During the question and answer period, Drs. Cohen, Hill, and Blaser all concurred with the opinion of Chairman Buyer that mandatory curricula and credentialing is not the appropriate solution to this problem.
Information: Jonathan Fishburn, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.
