Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
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To assess the status of basic science departments in academic health centers through a survey of department chairs. ⋯ This survey reveals certain profound and disconcerting changes in the basic science departments of U.S. medical school. More studies are needed to see whether these trends continue. Further downsizing and merging of the basic sciences should be avoided in order to preserve the quality of medical education for future physicians as well as the quality of health care in the United States.
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To determine which of 33 topics academic deans identify as worthy of greater emphasis in medical curricula. Also, to assess the barriers to needed curricular changes. ⋯ Changes in health care delivery and an increasing generalist orientation are influencing academic deans' perspectives on needed curriculum changes, and there appears to be considerable support for medical school curricula that will foster a broader, more humanistic role for physicians.