Liberal arts and the premedical curriculum

Twenty-five leading physicians, medical educators, and humanists convened and affirmed the contributions of a liberal arts education to the study and practice of medicine. Participants agreed that overemphasizing technical expertise does have deleterious effects on premedical and medical education, which might be alleviated by encouraging a more broadly based undergraduate and medical curriculum. Admissions statistics show that approximately 50% of all applicants of medical school are admitted to some school and that there is no apparent bias against nonscience majors in the admissions process. Increased student awareness of these statistics should relieve anxieties and intense competitive pressures. A publication based on the conference recommendations will be made available to deans, advisors, and career counselors.