Shortening the training period for primary care physicians

May 27, 2012

Amednews.com

Re “Med school on the fast track” (amed news, May 7): It is a good idea to have primary care physicians receive their medical degrees in three years instead of four. I have been an advocate for this for years.

 But I would also reduce the pre-med education by a year or two as well.  This can be done by customizing the science courses.

Most primary care doctors have little need for whatever knowledge they may have retained from the time spent on physics, organic chemistry, and calculus in college. Worse some of these courses “weed out” students who could have gone on to become excellent primary care physicians.  

If the college/medical school programs were combined it should be possible to prepare students for primary care residency programs in five years. This could lead to turning out a full-fledged primary care doctor in a total of eight years instead of the customary 11.

Edward J. Volpintesta MD        

Shoreni