Time to Heal

Kenneth Ludmerer describes the evolution of American medical education from 1910, when a controversial report on medical diploma mills spurred the reform and expansion of medical schools, to the current era of managed care, when commercial interests once more have come to the fore, compromising the training of the nation's future doctors. Ludmerer portrays the experience of learning medicine from the perspective of students, faculty, administrators, and patients, and he describes the effects of external social factors on academic centers as well. Most notably, the book explores the very real threats to medical education in the current environment of managed care, viewing these developments as a challenge to make many long overdue changes in medical education and practice.