On Campus Blog

Why so many med school faculty are fed up

The blog Health Care Renewal despairs over the results of a recent survey of more than 5000 faculty members at 26 nationally representative American medical schools, which produced this sample of results:

51% agreed that 'the administration is only interested in me for the revenue I generate'; 31%; that 'the culture of my institution discourages altruism'; 31%, that other people have taken credit for my work'; and 30% that 'I am reluctant to express my opinion for fear of negative consequences.' Half perceived that the institution does not value teaching and 27% that it does not reward clinical excellence; Over half disagreed with the statement that their own values are aligned with those of the institution. Also, 30% had seriously considered leaving academic medicine and 46% their own institution, both in the prior year.

Its general reaction:

These results show that US medical education is in moral crisis, and probably close to catastrophe. ... Shame on all of us for letting us get to this place.