The University of Illinois' medical school has a third-year program of weekly role-playing exercises focusing on management of acute medical problems. Students are responsible for creating the cases, complete with scenarios and treatment teams, simulating them, and successfully treating or reaching an impasse. Little teacher preparation time is…

New programs and related activities in ambulatory care and education in the Western Region Veterans' Health Administration and its 11 affiliated medical schools are reported, including advisory activities, innovative projects, and a conference. Future activities in the expanded western region are outlined. (Author/MSE)

In the University of South Dakota's medical school clerkship program, students may choose one of three ambulatory-care settings. In one, the curriculum is problem based and student centered to enhance student interest in primary care. The new program has been successful and well received and is being further developed. (MSE)

Evaluation of the clinical competence of medical faculty in teaching hospitals is discussed. Different approaches to clinical assessment and theoretical and practical problems in assessing clinical faculty's performance are discussed. A University of Virginia medical school system for evaluation that combines objective and subjective assessment is…

Stanford Medical Group, a model group practice in internal medicine, was established at Stanford University (California) within the academic medical center. Clinical faculty status was raised by developing a separate faculty track for the practice. The approach has been well-received and successful in attaining training and patient care goals.…

At Case Western University (Ohio), medical students critically analyze the quality and cost of asthma care in the community by studying patients in primary care practices. Each writes a case report, listing all medical charges and comparing them with guidelines for asthma care. Several recommendations for improved care have emerged. (MSE)

University of Virginia medical student evaluations of teachers at the end of clerkships are compiled into a detailed annual report containing constructive criticism and recommendations. Teaching faculty then respond by addressing the comments and initiating proposals for improvement. Experience with the system has been encouraging, and wider…

The 1989 California Medical School Matching Program pilot study illustrated that the technical aspects of a matching program for medical school applicants can be successful, paralleling the current admission process to a reasonable degree. The process is designed to solve the problem of multiple acceptance within an applicant pool. (Author/MSE)

A popular required family medicine clerkship at Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) suggests that ambulatory care can be taught as a core component of the clinical curriculum. Success requires strong institutional support, structured curriculum, adequate patients, dedicated faculty, sufficient training sites, an appropriate evaluation…

University of Hawaii medical school workshops retrain faculty for their roles as tutors in the newly adopted problem-based curriculum. Assessment of trainees' knowledge and skills before and after the sessions indicate the training was successful and also identified common problems faced by traditional teachers in the new role of facilitator.…

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)

The design, curricula, and financing of four existing medical schools' rural training track programs (University of Washington, University of Nebraska, State University of New York/Buffalo, University of Kentucky) are described. The programs are seen as having potential to decrease the shortage of physicians choosing careers in rural areas.…

The da Vinci Society provides a format for integration of the humanities, arts, medical education, and clinical practice. The critical discussion group, whose meetings' atmosphere is informal and collegial, includes basic science faculty, academic clinicians, private practice physicians, allied health personnel, and occasional visiting artists.…

The 115 African-American and other nontraditional medical students attending a summer program in study skills and academic preparation to promote achievement and retention were compared with 82 nonattendees on demographic and academic measures. Little difference was found in the groups, except that attendees felt the program helped them adjust to…

Baylor College of Medicine (Texas) conducts a variety of summer enrichment and other programs to improve how science is presented to students from elementary grades through college. These efforts entail close collaboration between medical college administration, Texas public school teachers, and college and university faculty. (Author/MSE)