The school of medicine of the University of Missouri--Kansas City developed the Quarterly Profile Examination, a schoolwide, longitudinal comprehensive examination of knowledge acquisition and retention, to satisfy internal and external requirements for assessment. The system is seen as effective in fostering problem-based and independent learning…

An orientation program for 110 incoming housestaff was implemented at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Residents received instruction in large-group teaching skills, bedside teaching, small-group discussion, and student evaluation. The program was rated positively by residents.…

A study of the cost of educating undergraduate medical students at the University of Virginia resulted in calculations of faculty contact hours, faculty requirements, and cost of faculty, staff, and administrative services. Overall cost of a four-year medical education was estimated at $357,000 per student. The model used is described. (Author/MSE)

The University of Minnesota's required six-week ambulatory medicine clerkship provides a comprehensive orientation to ambulatory care through planned integration of patient care with academic work. Responses of both students and faculty have been enthusiastic, with the benefits compensating for high costs in preceptor time. (MSE)

Evaluation of the University of South Florida Medical School's new (1990) preventive health requirements for matriculants showed that expensive requirements had the lowest rate of compliance and inexpensive ones, the highest rates. Enforcement measures significantly improved compliance. Cost was seen as a major deterrent to compliance. (Author/DB)

A study examined four "bimodal" medical schools (University of Washington, University of North Carolina, University of California/San Francisco, University of California/San Diego), ranked highly in both production of primary care physicians and receipt of National Institutes of Health research grants. The study examined institutional…

The San Diego State University (California) Health Careers Opportunity Program for disadvantaged students, most of whom are minorities, has 11 components, each dedicated to some form of educational intervention. The program emphasizes collaborative skills, fosters pride in accomplishment and confidence, and builds analytical and problem-solving…

A survey of 1991 and 1994 graduating medical school students at medical schools (N=175) in Colorado, New Mexico and South Dakota found that differences in prevalence of AIDS/HIV cases in those states did not affect schools' training programs but indirectly affected students' knowledge and attitudes, which were related to the numbers of…

The choice of the Oregon Health Sciences University to change its status from public to private is discussed, focusing on the reasons for the change (decreased public funding, health care market competition, bureaucracy), the political process of building support for legislation, key features of restructuring, challenges faced, and lessons…

To increase supply of generalist physicians, three state-supported Virginia medical schools formed a partnership with governmental stakeholders in the Generalist Physician Initiative. Lessons learned concerning stakeholder participation in planning, shared philosophical commitment, support for risk-taking, attitudes toward change, and trust are…

Medical, nursing, pharmacy, and dental education in West Virginia's state universities has undergone substantial changes since 1991, becoming more responsive to community needs. A primary-care, community-based academic system now involves students, faculty, health professionals, and lay community members in identifying and serving needs in…

Study of 193 University of Kentucky medical school alumni investigated whether those entering by early decision (ED) would demonstrate geographic preferences in choice of undergraduate institutions, in-state residency sites, and practice locations similar to demonstrated preferences for medical school. ED graduates were significantly more likely…

In 1992, the four medical schools in North Carolina and the state's dental school initiated a four-year project to more thoroughly integrate content about substance abuse into their curricula. The processes by which key faculty, administrators, and staff from all schools worked together, with each school tailoring the project's findings to its own…

Study of 430 University of Michigan first-year medical students' satisfaction with their learning environment resulted in a predictive model using gender and minority group (excluding Asians) status. Results suggest curriculum structure and students' perceptions of faculty priorities are prominent predictors of student satisfaction across…