Medical School Is Changing –
Dr. Michael Everest Explains How
For many years, the medical field has churned out thousands of medical practitioners who are not only scientifically grounded, but also skilled in clinical skills. The contributions of these men and women in the medical field have and continue to be a blessing to humanity. However, in the recent past, the field has witnessed sweeping changes that have been seen by many practicing doctors or physicians as a revolution in medical education.
The changes in the medical training field have not only been dramatic but also changed the pedagogical approach and teaching philosophy which remains a subject of debate. Whether these changes in pedagogy and approach to medical education is good for the profession or not is a matter of discussion. In this post, Dr. Michael Everest weighs in on the subject alongside other peers to diagnose the situation through their views and perspectives.
Medical education has certainly changed over the past years and is poised to continue changing largely because of the changes in the scientific field and the current needs of society. However, experts who have been in the field for years such as Dr. Michael Everest contend that such changes to the conventional UME practice need to be carefully measured against the traditional focus of the faculty to avoid any unforeseen consequences that could ruin the advances made in the past. He argues that the movement from the novice to master in the field is something that cannot be done hurriedly. This argument is hinged on the increased focus on biomedical science in revised curricula whose beneficiaries are the public, developing physicians, and nascent practitioners.
Seasoned medical practitioners typically are of the view that the shift from a traditional lecture method and practical approach to training toward a more relaxed, online-based learning, has tended to produce medical graduates who are deficient in elements that have remained the defining features of healthcare professionals. These include a deep grounding in biomedical science, high-level clinical expertise, and a clear understanding of the pathological basis of various illnesses.
The challenges for the education of the best possible physicians are great but the benefits to medicine and society are enormous.
Over the past 2-3 decades, demographic changes, a shift in science, and the changing federal policies have had a major impact on the field of medicine both in its delivery of curricula and practice. This trend is set to continue over the next few years. Accordingly, the education and training of medical students and other healthcare professionals are beginning to change dramatically. For instance, the introduction of minimum entry requirements, enhanced admission, and the changing university policies and practices are changing the manner in which tomorrow’s doctors are being trained.
The structure, content, and method of delivering medical curricula are continuously being refined to help improve medical practice. At the same time, medical practitioners and policymakers are faced with public health challenges as well as the struggle to ensure a seamless transition from one phase of medical education to the next. Based on a highly selective and competitive admission process, medical education is grouped into three phases namely the undergraduate medical education, residency training (graduate medical training), and continuing medical education.
Using a broad-based selection criterion together with checking past academic achievements, admissions committees in universities are focused on retaining the quality of medical training. The selection criteria are also focused on assessing the values and attributes of would-be physicians as well as requiring evidence of possession of those values and attributes.
Medical schools and universities are at the forefront in propelling creativity-based learning among medical students across the field. According to Dr. Everest, after an individual completes medical school and residency training, he or she must continue to commit to the development of their professional career through practice, sponsored continuing medical education and experience to reinforce their content and knowledge gained during their training. Through The Everest Foundation, Dr. Michael Everest continues to contribute to the growth of the training and practice of the medical field by sponsoring young, innovative, and promising medical students to help them achieve their career goals.
