Reflections on Learning to Heal, Time to Heal, and Let Me Heal

In this Invited Commentary, the author reflects on the contributions, influence, and continued relevance of his 3 books on American medical education: Learning to Heal, Time to Heal, and Let Me Heal. Collectively, the books provide a panoramic view of U.S. medical education spanning 2 centuries, and they cover virtually every topic and consideration pertinent to the enterprise. They are works of education as well as works of history, and as such, they identify the timeless principles and values—maintaining rigorous academic standards and serving as a public trust—that need to be protected at all costs if medical education in the United States is to retain its tradition of excellence and leadership. Learning to Heal describes the creation and maturation of the U.S. system of medical education, focusing on its cultural as well as its scientific roots; the book also defined the educational meaning and significance of these changes. Time to Heal introduced the term “learning environment” into the lexicon of medical education; it also inspired a number of notable experiments in undergraduate and graduate medical education. Let Me Heal provided the intellectual foundation for the 2017 version of Section VI of the Common Program Requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. However, the most notable contribution of these books is their analysis of medical education’s ongoing challenges and opportunities; thus, they provide a framework for improving medical education and health care delivery in the United States today.