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Jack R. Harnes, MD
New York

JAMA. 1979;242(10):1032.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

In commenting on the drop in the medical student-faculty ratio (240:2819, 1978) from 1.5 in 1970 to 1971 (40,487/26,504) to 1.3 in 1977 to 1978 (59,950/44,762), the article states the change suggests "that the impact of economic restrictions on faculty hiring and increases in enrollment is becoming evident."

The authors have drawn a totally incorrect conclusion from these figures, which indicate a proportionate increase in the faculty rather than a decrease.

If a student-faculty ratio of 1.5 is calculated for 1977 to 1978 enrolled students, the faculty would consist of 39,967 members. Thus, there has been an increase of 4,795 faculty members in proportion to the student body since 1970 to 1971.

Assuming a conservative cost of $30,000 per year for salary, fringe benefits, and office expenses for each faculty member, the cost of medical education has risen $143,850,000 or $2,400 per student per year.

At a . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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