Some big news coming out of New York University’s medical school, which may have larger ramifications in the medical education world in the years to come. They have launched a pilot program for a small percentage of their students to finish their studies in three years instead of the traditional four years. The thinking is that they by eliminating redundancies in their science curriculum, getting students into clinical training more quickly and adding more class time in the summer, these students will be able to practice medicine earlier and save a quarter of the cost of medical school – which at NYU is nearly $50,000 a year. That $50,000 doesn’t include other musts like room, board, books and supplies – not to mention the costs of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. NYU says they can make the change without compromising the quality of the student experience. Another major benefit of having medical school students done in three years: an influx of doctors may alleviate the major physician shortage that is set to hit hard over the next few years.
“We’re confident that our three-year students are going to get the same depth and core knowledge, that we’re not going to turn it into a trade school,” said Dr. Steven Abramson, vice dean for education, faculty and academic affairs at the NYU School of Medicine in a New York Times article that ran December 24.
Consider this: similar pilot programs are underway at Texas Tech Health Science Center School of Medicine and Mercer University School of Medicine, so tomorrow’s medical school students may finish medical school in less time than it took for them to get their undergraduate degree!
Will this reform of medical education catch on? What do you think of it? What will your students think about it? They are definitely strivers and no strangers to hard work. We’d love to hear your feedback.
