Lacking a “Social Mission”

Here‘s a NYT article focusing on NYU’s new curriculum, but examining more closely criticisms of many medical schools – a lack of patient-centered coursework. NYU, Harvard, Florida State University and other institutions are reacting to critiques that students do not get in to see patients early enough in their medical school careers and that pathophysiology is emphasized over compassionate care.

Unfortunately, until incentives are aligned (= reimbursement), practicing physicians will be forced to continue to focus on disease, rather than patient well-being. Along those lines, I recommend Atul Gawande’s New Yorker article, “Letting Go” about end-of-life care.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: