The author contends that skillful planning is essential to the orderly development of quality academic veterinary programs and the continued development of the veterinary profession as a useful and viable force in society. Methods for establishing goals and for planning quality programs are discussed. (LBH)

This program was designed to train students in the principles of applied epidemiology and concepts of herd disease prevention. It included a lecture course, a client education program, and demonstration herds for providing students with clinical training, to collect data for documenting herd disease prevention, and for problem solving. (LBH)

Children are especially vulnerable to solar injury and heat illness. Physicians can lower children's risk through education about short-term and long-term sequelae and through various prevention efforts. The paper discusses how to screen for risk factors and how to prevent and treat heat illness and solar injury. (SM)

Reviews possible mechanisms by which exercise lowers blood pressure and discusses research which indicates exercise is an effective therapy for hypertension. The article presents information to help physicians counsel hypertensive patients wanting to start an exercise program and examines the use of exercise testing to predict the onset of…

A survey of 113 graduates of the State University of New York at Stony Brook dental school now in general practice found a high rate of self-reported use of preventive practices (oral hygiene instruction, pit-and-fissure sealants, fluorides, and diet analysis) included in the dental school's curriculum. (MSE)

Examines the effect of caffeine consumption on fit, healthful lifestyles, discussing its effects on the heart and respiration and noting its psychological effects on some athletes. Moderate caffeine use will not cause problems for most people, but anyone susceptible to its effects (e.g., with arrhythmias) may want to avoid caffeine. (SM)

Surveys were mailed to a sample of Michigan internists and family practitioners (N=2060). This study examined influences on (1) how confident physicians feel about treating a particular problem, (2) where they look for assistance and advice, and (3) what level of continued involvement in the patient's care they prefer. (MLW)

Discusses the role of departments of family medicine in teaching preventive medicine through required clinical experiences, required nonclinical courses, electives, collaborative interdisciplinary clerkships, and interdisciplinary nonclinical courses. Offers examples of innovative programs at the Universities of Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont,…

Reviews the rationale for including prevention in the clinical medicine clerkship. Summarizes current guidelines, presents examples of curricula in several medical schools, and proposes a future direction that stresses integrating teaching preventive medicine into internal medicine clerkships and across the entire four-year medical curriculum. (DB)

This article discusses the activities of the "curanderos" (healers) in South Texas and how these sometimes conflict with modern health education. (JA)

Discussed are concerns about chiropractic practice and the impact of some legislation related to Medicare, accreditation, and research about chiropractic practice. (RH)

The transmission of hospital-caused infections is discussed; efforts to control hospital pathogens are described. (DT)

Analyzing the Yuwipi ceremony of the Dakota Sioux, this article describes a single performance and then discusses the Yuwipi in terms of its general meaning (light phase, dark phase, marginal phase, and feast). (JC)

The legend of the Cherokee Medicine Man is detailed and the origins of herbal medicine are accounted for in this brief story. (JC)