RT Journal
T1 MEdicine's growing dependence on allied scientists
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1959
FD November 14
VO 171
IS 11
SP 1579
OP 1579
DO 10.1001/jama.1959.03010290137021
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1959.03010290137021
AB The important role of the Ph.D. scientist as teacher and investigator in the basic medical sciences has long been recognized. Data presented by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals in its current report indicate that almost 70% of full-time faculty members in the five major basic sciences do not hold the M.D. This represents a considerable decrease in the number of physician teachers in departments of anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, and physiology since a similar analysis by Hinsey in 1950.1 The greatest concentration of physician teachers in these subjects is in the most senior academic ranks so that the trend already clearly evident can be expected to continue.The diminishing role of the physician in the basic science departments would be of serious consequence if it indicated that today's students have lost the opportunity to relate these disciplines to current clinical problems. There are three safeguards against this