Generalism versus subspecialization: changes necessary in medical education

During the initial Partners Meeting of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME), the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in May 2005, a plenary discussion and debate focused on the tensions that exist between generalist and subspecialty education within both the undergraduate and postgraduate educational programs in Canadian medical schools. Key issues identified in the debate included medical student selection, generalist representation on medical school faculty and in learning experiences, and the need for a greater teaching role and respect for generalism to be developed.