Academic Medicine

The proper education of a doctor must not be restricted to the sciences but rather must include study of the humanities and the social sciences. This is best achieved by having an interactive and physically integrally located medical school. Not only must medicine be based on modern biology, a biology education is also essential for all college undergraduates. One cannot consider genetic engineering if one does not understand what a gene is and how it is controlled. Unique to medical education are the places of medical practice. Besides providing a site of learning, the teaching hospital must provide excellent patient care and be responsive to the surrounding community. The university must embrace these other goals. Society should provide high quality health care for all. This cannot be achieved if only the lowest cost is the goal. While resources are limited, economic efficiency cannot be the only parameter.