Medical educators' views on medical education reform
J. C. Cantor, A. B. Cohen, D. C. Barker, A. L. Shuster and R. C. Reynolds
Office of Health Statistics and Analysis, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ.
To determine whether medical educators perceive a need for change in
medical student education, we analyzed data from a 1989 survey of 1369
respondents from all US schools of allopathic medicine. Except for basic
sciences faculty, a majority of educators stated that "fundamental changes"
are needed in medical student education in the United States. Nearly three
fourths of deans and associated deans reported the need for "fundamental
changes" or "thorough reform." At least 79% of educators voiced support for
six specific reforms, such as rewarding teaching excellence and increasing
clinical education in ambulatory and community settings. While slight
majorities supported reducing class size and centralizing governance,
substantial proportions stated that they would "work against" such reforms.
Most educators reported that a broad base of support within the school
would be essential for change. The survey suggests a restlessness among the
leaders of medical education.
