Academic Medical Centers and Conflicts of Interest
- Orin M. Goldblum, MD
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omg@adelphia.net
Pittsburgh, Pa
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Department of Dermatology
University of California, San Francisco
San Rafael
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS
- CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- DISCLOSURE
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (US)
- TRAINING SUPPORT
To the Editor: The Special Communication on physician-industry conflicts of interest by Dr Brennan and colleagues1 proposes sweeping and long-needed changes but neglects a new type of potential conflict of interest: pharmaceutical industry financing of graduate medical education (GME). Although the authors address continuing medical education, recommendations regarding GME are not included. With current pharmaceutical industry funding of entire rheumatology fellowships2 and dermatology residencies,3-4 the authors should expand their recommendations to include this new potential source of conflict of interest.
In articles about a controversial industry-funded residency program developed by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Dr Kassirer, one of the authors of the Special Communication, has commented on this issue.3-4 Terming the program a “disgrace,” he pointed out that these unrestricted grants may not be unencumbered and might create feelings of reciprocity. He also wondered whether this type of funding was …
