A literature review reveals differing conceptions of the learning outcomes achieved through practicums (workplace learning) in professional education. Five distinct approaches to student assessment are examined. Integration of the practicum with the instructional program provides opportunities for students to bring together a range of knowledge…

Reports on a small work group that met to discuss experiences with establishing and conducting dental education programs that had significant affiliation with private practice settings. Five programs in diverse areas were represented. Discussion covered program goals and objectives, support and commitment, practice/practitioner selection,…

Discusses the status of optometric residency education, looking briefly at its history, accreditation, growth, comparison with other professions, program content and enrollment, use of residency as a qualification, entry-level competence, potential for program expansion, and financial resources and pressures. Concludes that much development of…

A study compared the performances of Wake Forest University (North Carolina) medical students rotating through an internal medicine program, 88 in a problem-based curriculum and 364 in a lecture-based curriculum. Students in the problem-based curriculum received significantly higher ratings from house staff and faculty on four clinical rating…

A survey of 302 pharmacy school graduates from the University of Toronto College of Pharmacists (Ontario) investigated perceptions of the adequacy of formal and clinical training for the practice of pharmacy. Assessments varied depending on time of training. All ratings suggest room for improvement and the need for special attention to the quality…

A survey of 60 pharmacy schools found that 58 had faculty practicing specifically in psychopharmacy and also offered didactic instruction. Twenty-six schools are interested in hiring psychopharmacy faculty within the next 5 years. Few require psychopharmacy clerkships, an important factor in interesting students in postgraduate training.…

Remediation of at-risk senior optometry students is discussed, looking at possible reasons for remediation need and the design of a program to effectively address students' needs, including program design, student evaluation/placement, development of specific skills, and supervision. The South Boston Community Health Center (Massachusetts) program…

This article proposes that in order for academic medical centers to compete with successful group practices, health maintenance organizations, and integrated health service networks, they must form clinical faculty into a competitive medical group with more price-competitive and user-friendly services, restructure clinical training to be more…

A primary care preceptorship was successfully incorporated into the University of Michigan medical school's third-year curriculum. Key components included agreement across primary care specialties on goals and objectives, involvement of community practitioners, frequent communication with preceptors, active feedback to preceptors, and thorough…

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine's success in educating and retaining primary care physicians for practice in rural Appalachia is ascribed to its focused mission; a multistate student exchange program; careful recruitment, admission, and placement; early clinical training in rural sites; and status as a state-supported institution.…

Performance by medical school sophomores (N=106) on higher-order questions in a second year introductory medicine course did not correlate with perceived performance in subsequent clerkships any better than did performance on fact-recall items. The use of multiple clinical simulations may emerge as the only satisfactory controlled assay of…

Creighton University (Nebraska) sends groups of pharmacy, medical, dental, nursing, and nonprofessional students to small Dominican Republic villages. They find pharmacy practice highly clinical in this situation. Participants consider the experience one of the most significant in their personal and professional lives. (Author/MSE)

A study of 658 University of Arizona medical school graduates compared standardized test scores, grade point averages, and family practice clerkship evaluations for students selecting family practice and non-family practice specialties. Family practice graduates scored lower on the national licensing examination, but there was no difference in…

The University of Rochester has developed a third-year medical school clerkship in which students spend the second half of the clerkship in the offices of practicing internists. Participating faculty are carefully chosen and trained. Experience indicates the approach is feasible, academically effective, and acceptable to students and faculty.…

Asserts that, like medical doctors, teachers perform clinical tasks and therefore should have clinical training. Argues that the separation of remediation and prevention is illusory. Recommends that psychology instruction must be an essential part of teacher education. (CFR)