Educator discusses key issues for future doctors to consider

(HealthDay)—The key issues for future physicians are discussed in an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Catherine Lucey, M.D., from the University of San Francisco School of Medicine, recently discussed the most important qualities of future physicians and the transitions needed in medical education to teach these qualities.

According to the article, Lucey noted that there are five issues that need incorporating into medical education. A key issue for future physicians is to balance inquiry and improvement, considering the tension between teaching the known and learning how to explore the unknown. Future doctors need to appreciate the value of interdependency and learn that the dominance model is no longer appropriate. In addition, physicians must understand the critical role of information technology. With the ability to collect patient data becoming easier, physicians can focus on building relationships with patients; relationship building should be integrated into teaching. Increased personal patient interactions will result in increased involvement, and physicians will need to expand their outlooks to broaden the scope and impact of their work.

"The challenges of the 20th century were to add years to life, and we were very successful," Lucey said at a recent consortium meeting of the AMA's Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative. "The challenges of the 21st century will be to add life to years, and this requires us to work across a wide variety of disciplines and professions."

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