Fewer but Better-Trained Physicians

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 23, 1915

“Fewer but Better-Trained Physicians”

UNDER the above title the Journal of the American Medical Association gives the following editorial, which presents some suggestions of interest to many of our readers:—

“Fifteen years ago a noted educator, who was thoroughly familiar with the conditions underlying medical education, tersely remarked, ‘We do not need more doctors, we need more doctor.’ The statistics published last week show that this need is being attained. Fifteen years ago this country had one hundred and sixty-two medical colleges, which was over half of the world’s supply. Although some were well-equipped and well-conducted, a large proportion were owned by individuals or by joint stock corporations, and were conducted for profit. In some instances, a professorship could be secured by any physician who bought a certain amount of stock; for a smaller amount he would secure a lectureship. Since these institutions were organized for profit, it was important to secure large classes so the income from fees would be correspondingly increased. Glowing advertisements, follow-up letters, and paid solicitors were freely used; thus enrollments were swelled to mammoth proportions. No wonder that the actual number of students fifteen years ago reached the amazing total of 28,142, and that there were 5,747 graduates.”

“In the fifteen years there has, indeed, been a marked reduction; there are nearly fifty per cent fewer medical colleges; there are nearly forty per cent fewer medical students and medical graduates. Medical colleges sans teachers, sans laboratories, and sans ideals have given way to well-equipped medical colleges having fair entrance standards, skilled teachers, modern laboratories, and an abundance of clinical material. The sum total of colleges is decreased; the number of better ones has been greatly increased.

“Instead of a great army of students, many having not even a grammar school education, and enticed from more fitting occupations by glowing advertisements and ‘easy’ requirements, we now have about half the number; but practically all have had a preliminary training which enables them better to understand the more complex problems of modern medicine. As to the opportunities before the properly equipped medical student, these have not been diminished, but have been decidedly improved. The tables published last week show that there could be a further reduction in the number of colleges and still allow a greatly increased student enrollment. And the students would be further benefited by the change, since a greater

proportion would be in the better-equipped colleges.

“As to the reduction in the number of graduates, surely this country needed ‘fewer doctors, but more doctor’! For the public welfare it is certainly better to have a hundred well-trained graduates from modern high-grade schools than a thousand from the old-time variety of run-for-profit institutions. There is no danger that there will be a dearth of physicians. The annual number of graduates is still nearly double the loss of physicians by death; and even if it were less than the annual loss, it would be many years before a dearth would result, because of the seriously overcrowded condition of the profession. There is now one physician to from 600 to 650 people, as compared with one to from 1,500 to 2,500 in the leading nations in Europe. Even with this amazing contrast, we have not included in the figures for this country the hordes of so-called ‘drugless practitioners,’ Christian Scientists, osteopaths, chiropractors, naprapaths, etc., who are scarcely found in other countries.”