Choosing primary care? Influences of medical school curricula on career pathways

Howard Tandeter*, Martine Granek-Catarivas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

In countries in which a primary care-oriented system has developed, general practitioners, family physicians, and other primary care doctors are the keystone of an approach that aims to achieve high quality and satisfaction with relatively low costs. Despite this new trend, medical schools still produce excessive numbers of sub-specialists rather than primary care physicians. Among multiple reasons influencing a career choice either towards or away from primary care (institutional, legislative, and market pressures), the present article discusses ways in which medical school curricula may affect students in their perceptions of the role of primary care physicians. Since students are greatly influenced by the cultures of the institutions in which they train, the negative attitude of a university towards family medicine may negatively affect the number of students going into this specialty. Examples from Israeli faculties are presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)969-972
Number of pages4
JournalIsrael Medical Association Journal
Volume3
Issue number12
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Career choice
  • Clerkship
  • Family medicine
  • General practice
  • Medical school curriculum
  • Primary care

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