News from Our Nation's Medical Schools and Teaching Hospitals

NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., explains to the AAMC Executive Council how the SARS virus became a global health crisis. Related Resources: Responding to Bioterrorism AAMC Responds to Residents' Lawsuit Protecting the Uninsured AAMC Analysis in Brief About the AAMC Medical Schools Teaching Hospitals Surveys and Data Resources

Response to Public Citizen's Complaints about Graduation Survey
"Public Citizen's recent correspondence on the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire exhibits a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature and purpose of this survey," said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., in response to recent allegations. More >>

AAMC Applauds IOM Report, But Questions Funding Mechanism
The AAMC commends the Institute of Medicine on its latest plan for improving clinical education, patient care and research at academic health centers. While the association supports the IOM's proposal to create an "education innovation fund," it strongly disagrees with the method the IOM proposes to create this fund. More >>

AAMC Issues Report on Bioterrorism Education for Medical Students
In its report, "Training Future Physicians About Weapons of Mass Destruction," the AAMC provides the first guidance ever issued to medical educators about how to prepare tomorrow's doctors to care for victims of bioterrorism and other weapons of mass destruction. More >>

Supreme Court Ruling Supports Greater Diversity in Medicine
The Supreme Court decision "will not only affect higher education, it will help ensure better health care for all Americans, now and in the future," said AAMC President Dr. Jordan Cohen, following the Court's ruling in the University of Michigan affirmative action cases. More >>

AAMC Statement on Patient Rights and Medical Training
Recent reports have suggested that medical students are performing pelvic examinations on women under anesthesia, without their knowledge and approval. The AAMC believes that such practice is unethical and unacceptable. More >>

NRMP Releases 2003 Residency Match Results
On March 20, almost 24,000 applicants in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) learned which residency program they will enter for training. A record high number of residency positions were offered in the 2003 Match; this was accompanied by an all time high in the number of applicants matched to residency positions. More >>

Who Can You Trust?
"Trust is earned, not owed." In his address at the 113th Annual Meeting, AAMC President Dr. Jordan J. Cohen discusses the erosion of public trust in medicine. More >>

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Factoids and Quotables:

According to AAMC 2002 Graduate Questionnaire data, the average educational debt of indebted graduates (including pre-med borrowing) was $103,855 - up 5 percent from last year. Almost 54 percent of 2002 graduates are carrying a debt of $100,000 or higher; 21 percent of graduates owe $150,000 or more.