It is increasingly important to design local biomedical databases with attention to naming and classification standards. In some cases, common nomenclature will not be suitable, having been designed for another purpose, but much will be useful. Development of standard nomenclature is a social responsibility in the electronic biomedical community.…

Analysis of reliability among peer reviews of 422 unsolicited articles for the "Journal of Clinical Anesthesia" found that most articles' reviews were consistent or near consistent. However, articles reviewed by two of the editorial board members were much less likely to be accepted than those read by two nonmembers. (Author/MSE)

A review of the combined M.D.-Ph.D training program at Johns Hopkins Medical School (Maryland) found that, of 109 students who earned both degrees since 1980, 42 have completed all training and are now in career positions. Most (81 percent) are in full-time academic posts, with 14 percent in research institutes and the remaining 5 percent in…

It is proposed that the need for collaboration between physicians and nurses is increasing with new health care needs and delivery systems, and that practitioners and educators must help improve the relationship. The phenomenon of collaboration, reasons for promoting it, barriers to achieving collaborative relationships, and change strategies are…

A creditable response to society's needs and expectations can be best undertaken by establishing a national agenda in academic medicine that places a high priority on health services research and the scientific analysis of the entire health care system. The expansion of the cadre of health service researchers is needed. (Author/MLW)

Stanford University created an interdisciplinary program to train researchers and academic leaders in the field of medical information sciences. The program is described, identifying experiences of interest to people developing such a program. The program's background and history, students, curriculum and philosophy, and lessons learned are…

The relationship between professions and society is changing rapidly. However, society still values the physician as healer and professional. Medicine's professional associations and academic institutions must ensure that all physicians understand professionalism and accept its obligations. They should encourage physicians' moral and intellectual…

This paper proposes that physicians' use of computerized medical information systems in the practice of medicine can assist delivery of cost-effective, high-quality patient care and help expand clinical research. However, benefits can be realized only if clinicians participate in system development and implementation and if senior institutional…

To meet the medical care crisis caused by returning World War II veterans, the Veterans Administration entered into affiliations with medical schools, a partnership that provided physicians for veterans and allowed residents to complete graduate medical education. (Author/MLW)

This paper argues that in the debate over medical ethics and its role in medical education, the divergence of law and reality reflects the law's flawed medical model, which poorly matches the dynamic of the physician-patient relationship and attempts ineffectually to reshape it, and also medicine's autonomous professional culture, which…

Describes development of a curriculum in medical information science that focuses on practical problems in clinical medicine rather than details of information technology. Design was guided by identification of six key clinical challenges that must be addressed by practitioners in the near future and by examination of past failures of informatics…

A discussion of the place of medical history in the undergraduate medical curriculum looks at the evolution and trends in this area of instruction from the late 19th century to the present. Curriculum models and teacher qualifications are examined. An annotated bibliography of medical history sources is included. (MSE)

A survey of 249 students at the State University of New York at Buffalo identified medical ethics issues arising during clinical training in professional norms, limits of intervention, defensive shielding of professional colleagues, respect toward patients, communication, and student boundaries. Concerns differed by student year, supporting…

The Science and Health Education Partnership was established in 1987 at the University of California, San Francisco, to support local school district efforts to improve science education. Components include instructional assistance to teachers and direct work with students. Emphasis has evolved from helping teachers and students to supporting…