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Academic medicine as a public trust
S A Schroeder1, J S Zones, J A Showstack
1Health of the Public Program, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0994.
JAMA
|August 11, 1989
Summary
Academic medicine excels in research and patient care but struggles with public health issues like rising costs and unequal access. It must broaden its mission to meet societal expectations and secure future funding.
Area of Science:
- Medical research and public health
Background:
- Academic medicine holds societal trust for public health missions, supported by public funding and autonomy.
- Successes include advanced medical technologies and reduced mortality for conditions like heart disease and stroke.
- However, challenges persist, including escalating healthcare costs, suboptimal population health, and care quality disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate academic medicine's responsiveness to critical public health problems.
- To assess the alignment between academic medicine's mission and its societal obligations.
Main Methods:
- This study is a critical analysis of academic medicine's role and responsibilities.
- It examines the balance between biomedical research focus and broader public health engagement.
Main Results:
- Academic medicine has achieved significant scientific and clinical advancements.
- There is a notable gap in addressing major public health concerns such as healthcare expenditure and population health outcomes.
- A narrow focus may risk academic medicine's social contract and funding.
Conclusions:
- Academic medicine must expand its activities to better serve the general population's health needs.
- Realigning its mission with public responsibilities is crucial for continued societal trust and support.