Return to Front PageVOLUME 6, NUMBER 4

Century of Medical Education Progress Showcased

By Jennifer Bush

Medicine has been revolutionized over the past 100 years through new inventions and procedures such as antibiotics, insulin, X-rays, and organ transplants. Likewise, the 20th century has witnessed a sea change in medical education.

On Sept. 21, the AAMC, the Milbank Memorial Fund, and the AAMC's scholarly journal, Academic Medicine, will host a special event in Washington, D.C., honoring advancements in medical education. "A Century of Reform-Medical Education's Quiet Revolution to Meet America's Health Care Needs" will bring together medical educators and professionals to examine a challenge that has confronted medical education throughout its century of reform: merging medical competence with compassion and professionalism.

Donald E. Wilson, M.D., dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will serve as program moderator. Speakers will include University of Chicago Hospitals and Health Systems President Ralph Muller, AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., and Darrell Kirch, M.D., of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

Program Highlights: Videotape

A videotape, "Medical Students Are Learning in New Ways," will illustrate the major trends affecting medical education in the 20th century by juxtaposing clips from the NBC show "ER" with clips of medical dramas from past eras.

Panel

Experts in some of the most rapidly changing areas in medicine - genetics, end-of-life care, cultural competency, and quality - will discuss the next revolution in medical education and its impact on health care.

Academic Medicine and Milbank

Reports Dr. Cohen will present a summary of the medical education revolution drawing largely on the findings of two reports to be released at the event. The Academic Medicine and Milbank reports include case studies that describe in detail changes occurring in medical education in U.S. medical schools. These reports are based on a comprehensive AAMC survey of all medical schools' organization and management of educational programs.

Information Nathalie Tavel, (202) 828-0542

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