A Conversation about the Clinical Scholars Program: The Training of Nonbiomedical Fellows inside the Modern Academic Medical Center

• Published in: Medical care 2002-04, Vol.40 (4), p.II25-II31
• Main Authors: Gardner, Joel R., Krevans, Julius, Mahoney, Margaret
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic tenure; Corporations; Curricula; Medical education; Medical research; Medical schools; Patient care; Philanthropy; Rheumatology; School campuses
• ISSN: 0025-7079; 1537-1948

Background: The Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program is arguably the best example of "action research" in postgraduate medical education conducted in the second half of the twentieth century. Since its inception in the late 1960s, the program has sought to improve the sensitivity of medical care to its constituents by producing a new kind of physician-one with the skills to rigorously assess the societal forces that impact health care and effect useful change. Methods: An oral history interview with Dr. Halsted Holman, one of the surviving founders, regarding his personal impressions of the program after 30 years of operation. Results: The greatest success of the program is its scholars. Today, nearly 1,000 alumni are ubiquitous in health care, from the hallowed ranks of the Institute of Medicine to departments of medicine, as heads of hospitals and leaders of government, from federal and state agencies to statehouses throughout the United States, and even to the Surgeon General's office. However, as a revolutionary departure in academics, the program has to watch out that in its maturation and senescence it does not miss opportunities to embrace new disciplines, new methods, and new focuses of investigation. Conclusion: Philanthropy can come together with courageous leadership to successfully challenge educational orthodoxy.