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AAMC and Milbank Reports Show How Medical Education Has Evolved With Society's Changing Health Care Needs

Parents Still Want Their Children to be Doctors, AAMC Research

Washington, D.C., September 21, 2000 — The Medical education continues to evolve with and respond to society's changing health care needs, according to two new reports released by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The reports were issued today at an event in Washington, D.C., to celebrate advances in medical education, "A Century of Reform - Medical Education's Quiet Revolution to Meet America's Health Care Needs."

"One of the greatest challenges in medical education today is to teach our students how to blend medical competence with compassion and professionalism in a continually evolving health care system," said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D. "America's medical schools are working to meet that challenge by pairing innovative new teaching strategies with the time-tested foundations of medical training. These two reports present a clear picture of their success in meeting that challenge."

The AAMC's Academic Medicine supplement offers snapshots of the changes occurring in the curriculum at 130 of the 141 allopathic medical schools in the United States and Canada. The journal supplement represents the most comprehensive collection ever assembled of information about medical education curricula. The Milbank Report, a joint collaboration between the AAMC and the Milbank Memorial Fund, examines in depth the curriculum reform and renewal process at ten U.S. medical schools.

The institutions featured in the Milbank Report are the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, and the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine.

Over the years, the AAMC has tracked the many changes in medical education. For example, as the population grows older, medical schools are adding training in geriatrics to their curricula. According to AAMC data, in 1985, 82 percent of medical schools taught geriatrics as part of a required course; by 1997, 95 percent of schools included geriatrics training in the required curriculum. Other examples of advances in medical education observed by the AAMC, include:

• Between 1996 and 1999, medical students doubled their voluntary participation in programs that bring care to underserved populations. In 1999, over 66 percent of medical students provided this type of voluntary care.
• Most medical schools (88 percent) offer students the opportunity to learn the skills of evidence-based medicine, fostering the ability of students to make better decisions in an increasingly complex medical world.
• Almost 70 percent of medical schools offer some formal training in cultural competence, and 14 percent plan to introduce it in the curriculum.

At the "Quiet Revolution" event, in addition to evaluating medical education's programs to date, an expert panel also explored four future areas of challenge--end-of-life care (David E. Weissman, M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin), genetics (Margaret M. McGovern, M.D., Ph.D., Mt. Sinai School of Medicine), health care quality (Kenneth Kizer, M.D., M.P.H., National Quality Forum), and cultural competency (Ira C. Clark, Jackson Memorial Hospital).

AAMC Survey Research

Also at the event, Dr. Cohen released new public opinion research showing that being a doctor is among the top career paths parents want their children pursue. In a June 2000 national survey of 800 registered voters, 22 percent of parents selected doctor as the "career, business, or profession" they would like to see their children choose. When the same question was asked in February 1965, 18 percent of the respondents selected doctor. A career in medicine is followed closely by computer/technology careers at 17 percent, a profession not represented in 1965.

"The preference for medicine is particularly gratifying — and no doubt surprising to some — given that so many concerns and even criticisms have been leveled at our health care system in recent years," said Dr. Cohen.

The national survey research was conducted for the AAMC by Public Opinion Strategies based in Alexandria, VA. To receive copies of the Milbank Report, please contact Caroline Coleman, (202) 828-0412.

The Academic Medicine supplement "A Snapshot of Medical Students' Education at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Reports from 130 Schools" can be purchased through AAMC Publications at (202) 828-0416.

Reporters: To receive copies of the reports, please contact Stephanie Pearson.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges represents the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; some 400 major teaching hospitals, including 74 Veterans Administration medical centers; 91 academic and professional societies representing nearly 88,000 faculty members; and the nation's 67,000 medical students and 102,000 residents.