<p>What a shocker. Study reveals that medical students who get disciplined for unprofessional behavior are more likely to turn into doctors who get disciplined for unprofessional behavior:</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this is not news to me either, coureur.
Over 27 years, I've got to know quite a few residents as they go through the program at the hospital where I work. They are all extremely bright individuals. But that's not the measure of the caliber of doctor they will become. A compassionate, ethical med student might grow into a wonderful physician. Not likely that a young person lacking these essential qualities will find them magically once they obtain an MD.<br>
I guess better late than never that the need to target unprofessional behavior in our future doctors is garnering some attention.</p>
<p>I am certainly not excusing unethical behavior, but is the current system designed to nurture compassionate, ethical professionals? My d found the premed sequence devoid of intellectual ideas and full of dull lecture courses with the focus on grade-grubbing. Maybe it's different at smaller schools, but although she did very well and believes she would be a great doctor (as do I) she could not imagine spending four years on this path when there were so many more fascinating opportunities for growth available at her university. Wealthier students we know who feel the same way are taking the premed sequence after they graduate.</p>
<p>aparent5- I'm afraid what you say is SO true. My daughter's boyfriend is a biology major at Rice. He is not pre-med, and is very frustrated at some of his classes which are teaching entirely to the MCAT (is that what it is called?) Many (not all) of the kids are only concerned with getting into med school, and are not taking advantage of the wonderful opportunities at Rice. This young man would make a wonderful doctor- he is great with people and likes to be "hands on", but so far he has been interested in research. We are trying to change his mind. He is afraid he doesn't have "the grades" to get into med school, since he has taken advantage of much of what Rice has to offer. He has been in musical performances and gotten involved in my daughter's church work. It's too bad the system forces you to make such narrow choices.</p>