When I was young, my parents would tell stories about the rigors of their education.
Not in college, but elementary school.
In addition to the relatively accelerated curriculum the students were expected to get through, they were also put through the ringer as far as testing was concerned.
Instead of take home tests or essays, in class open-book or multiple-choice tests, they were tested the old-fashioned way. A student would be brought in front of the class and asked a question. They were expected to recite their knowledge and understanding on the spot.
In fact, many specialty medical board examinations have an element of this sort we call “oral boards.” These are the real tests of a physician, but they are the outlier in their path to licensure.
Interestingly, the American Board of Radiology dropped the oral board in 2013 until realizing what a catastrophic error it had made, only to recently announce the return of the oral board starting in 2028!
But, this article isn’t about traditional testing or specialty licensing exams.
This article is about the remaining 98% of medical education.
It seems like everyone has a story about an encounter with healthcare that left a bad taste in their mouth - not to undermine the severity of the damage they may have endured.
These encounters take many shapes and involve people from all walks. But, I can only speak from the perspective of a doctor who was brought up through this educational system along with others who had similar ambitions - some of whom ended up becoming doctors.
Along the way, I have witnessed behavior and practices that one can scarcely believe.
In this piece, we will uncover how we get from well-meaning students who want to pursue the noble profession of medicine to unwitting pawns in an industry that priorities funding over patient well-being.
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