Since 1984 the Pew National Dental Education Program has worked to bring long-term change in the U.S. system of dental education by enhancing individual dental schools' ability to understand the changing health care and higher education environments and assist them in redirecting program policies and budgets in response. (MSE)

The evolution of the Pew National Dental Education Program is discussed, focusing on the program's strategies for reform of dental education to meet new social, economic, and health care challenges. The strategic planning approach adopted is examined, and lessons learned in program development and implementation are outlined. (MSE)

A survey of 57 dental school deans concerning current and ideal curricular emphases in 33 topic areas identified three that were rated highly as ideals: health promotion/disease prevention; primary care; and effective patient-provider relationships/communication. The most significant barrier to reform was an already crowded curriculum. Deans…

A study examined four "bimodal" medical schools (University of Washington, University of North Carolina, University of California/San Francisco, University of California/San Diego), ranked highly in both production of primary care physicians and receipt of National Institutes of Health research grants. The study examined institutional…

A survey of academic deans (n=100) in universities associated with medical and osteopathy schools found that administrators' attitudes about curriculum content are being influenced by changes in health care delivery and an increasingly generalist orientation. There appears to be support for medical school curricula fostering a broader, more…

Eight broad and significant trends in the health care environment are examined, including trends in demography, the economy, epidemiology, patterns of finance and delivery, science and technology, values, and higher education governance and institutional planning. Strategic accommodation of the changes is seen as necessary as the profession moves…

A survey of curriculum directors at 51 pharmacy schools investigated attitudes and discrepancies concerning the current and ideal emphasis placed on 33 topics, as well as barriers to curriculum change. A move toward primary and outpatient care and better relationships and communication between pharmacists and patients were evident in the…