Environmental health in medical school curricula: views of academic deans

Academic deans at 126 US medical schools were surveyed in Spring 1994. Comparisons of means and frequencies, multiple regression, and factor analysis were used. Study results showed only low to moderate expectations for graduate competence in seven environmental health competency areas. Over two-thirds of deans (70%) indicated that there was "minimal" emphasis on environmental health at their schools; 61% thought that ideally there should be "moderate" emphasis. An "already crowded curriculum" and "too few qualified faculty" were frequently cited as barriers to greater emphasis on environmental health. Students were identified most commonly as the group expressing the greatest support for environmental health education. Although there was not a clear consensus, occupational medicine departments were most often selected as best suited to offer environmental medicine education.