Literature on general, fellowship, and short-term faculty development activities for family medicine educators is reviewed. Suggestions for future activities include initiation of training during residency, fourth year clinical fellow positions and two-year research fellowships supported by clinic revenue and grants, and more rigorous fellowship…

A review (HE 528 450) of large-scale studies of the psychometric characteristics of standardized-patient clinical examinations is commended for its clarity, thoroughness, and relevance. Issues of reliability, validity, scoring, reporting, and use of the tests are discussed further. (MSE)

A discussion of research needs on physicians' choice of specialty looks at methodological problems identified in the literature and suggests six areas for further development: distinction between career preference and career attainment; multiple predictors; larger samples; more specific specialty subdivisions; longitudinal approach; and testing of…

The authors propose that the present system of medical education has not kept pace with changes in medical services and financing and is contributing to high health care costs. Academic medical centers are urged to assume a leadership role in finding solutions to problems in medical education and health care reform. (Author/MSE)

In response to HE 528 462, the author suggests the use of student-generated learning issues in problem-based medical education should place more emphasis on mechanisms in the generation of learning issues, the ramifications of various degrees of student input into the identification of issues, and the role of teacher-learner negotiations in the…

Results of a study on medical college faculty motivation to teach physical diagnosis are interpreted to mean that generalists should be teaching these courses, which are the foundation of physician clinical skills and increasingly important in the current health care environment. (MSE)

A theoretical model for predicting medical student achievement (HE 528 467) is reviewed and found to be a significant improvement over previous predictive studies, to well illustrate the use of structural equation modeling in medical education research, and to offer an approach to practical research problems with potential to increase the…

It is argued that in the trend away from inpatient and toward ambulatory care clerkships in undergraduate medical education, certain educational issues must not be ignored, including the need for clear educational objectives, curriculum design, different teaching styles, teacher role, program length, and the value of the inpatient "ward…