Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
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Historical Article
Why the university-based medical school should survive: a historical perspective.
Universities and medical education have been allied since the Middle Ages. In the United States, proprietary medical schools began to unite with universities at the turn of the century. ⋯ In this paper, the author defines and discusses the origins of university-medical school tensions, provides a brief review of the history of university-based medical education in the United States, and describes some of the advantages and disadvantages of the alliance. Finally, he makes a case for why medical education must continue to be grounded in universities.
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To assess the perspectives of internal medicine (IM) residency directors on issues that might determine the feasibility of consortia for IM graduate medical education (GME). ⋯ The data appear to indicate some optimism for the prospects of GME consortia, thereby supporting their feasibility for IM GME. Although many respondents perceived barriers to success, such perceptions were less common among program directors who had had direct experience with previous collaborative efforts. Nevertheless, these barriers may require attention if consortia are to succeed in achieving their many possible advantages.
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The education of students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry in the seven health professions schools of the University System of West Virginia has undergone remarkable changes since 1991 to become more responsive to community needs. The changes have also enabled the schools to remain in sync with other anticipated changes in health care delivery. A primary care, community-based academic system has been developed, and students, campus-based faculty, community-based field professors, and lay community members collaborate to identify and resolve problems important to the communities located in the 42 counties designated Under-served Health Professions Service areas, and five additional rural counties. ⋯ The five-years demonstration project that began the new system started in 1991 with four rural sites. By 1996, the system had expanded greatly and consisted of 13 consortia of communities with a total of over 100 rural primary care centers plus several small rural hospitals, public health departments, and other health and social services agencies. The 1996 West Virginia legislature approved funds for the higher education budget that will support and sustain this primary care, community-based academic system.