June 1994
History
The American Medical Association was founded in 1847 with the primary goal of improving medical education in order to provide better medical care to the public.
Before the AMA was established, there were no standards of quality for medical education. The AMA's Council on Medical Education has helped advance medical education since the early part of the twentieth century.
Through the Council, the AMA is instrumental in promoting quality education and health care by supporting the development of accreditation and licensing systems. Because of this involvement, U.S. medical education is regarded today as the best in the world.
Undergraduate Medical Education
In 1942, the AMA Council on Medical Education and the Association of American Medical Colleges established the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The Committee maintains standards for undergraduate medical education and accredits 126 U.S. and 16 Canadian medical education programs.
Graduate Medical Education
The AMA has promoted clinical training beyond medical school since the beginning of this century. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, sponsored by the AMA and four other organizations, accredits nearly 6,800 residency programs in 1,500 medical institutions across the country.
Through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the AMA participates in accrediting institutions that offer continuing medical education programs for physicians.
Medical School Enrollment
As of July 1,1993, there were 125 four-year, 1 two-year and 16 Canadian medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. (In the spring of 1994, two four-year medical schools announced that they will merge; this will result in 124 four-year schools.)
Specialty Choice
For students graduating in the 1992-93 academic year, 14,276 (92%) participated in the National Resident Matching Program. Of the 15,554 graduates, 6,360 (4l%) accepted residency positions in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and combined medicine/pediatrics programs. An additional 1,054 students (7%) accepted residency positions in obstetrics-gynecology. So, slightly less than l/2 of the graduates initially entered residency training programs in specialties that can be considered primary care.
Statistics
Medical Students
Number of applicants for 1993 entering class -- 42,808
Number of applicants for 1994 entering class (not final) -- 45,100
First-year enrollment (1993-94) -- 17,090
Total enrollment (1993-94) -- 66,453
Women in first-year class (1993-94) -- 7,213 (42.2%)
Women graduates (1993-94) -- 5,938 (38%)
Tuition and Debt
Average tuition/fees for private schools (1993-94) -- $21,887
Average tuition/fees for public schools (1993-94, in-state
students) -- $8,221
Average debt for graduating seniors (1992) -- $55,859
Percent of graduating seniors with debt (1992) -- 81%
Faculty
Total number of full-time faculty (1993-94) -- 90,975
Full-time clinical faculty -- 73,443
Full-time basic science faculty -- 16,818
Total number of faculty (full-time, part-time and volunteer) -- 232,334