24th National Conference: the Medical Student and the Future of American Healthcare

Last Updated on April 16, 2022 by Lee Burnett, DO, FAAFP

On the fourth day of the 24th National Conference on Primary Health Care Access, April 11, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i, a special series of presentations focus on the medical students who will be expected to provide the services that PPACA (“Obamacare”) envisions.

The presentation is in three parts. The first, relates to curricular preparations for the new

The Medical Student and the Future of American Healthcare

Part 1: Curriculum Reform for a New Era

The series begins with a discussion of the traditional medical school curriculum. The passage of PPACA provides a reason for restructuring the curriculum to meet new realities.

As a case study, it is currently being restructured at one campus (Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska) to meet emerging healthcare needs and expected changes in the delivery of healthcare.

Thomas J. Hansen, MD will present an overview of the changes at Creighton.

As a reactor, Mark D. Goodman, MD, will comment on how the Creighton family medicine residency program is itself preparing for the future impact of changes in how healthcare is organized and reimbursed.

Part 2: Pre-Med and Medical Student Perceptions of Healthcare Futures

Following the presentation on PPACA’s impact on Creighton University, a presentation will be made of the results of the survey of attitudes toward the future of medical and pre-med students.

How do tomorrow’s physicians see healthcare evolving in the years to come? What do they anticipate for their career? How will student loan debt impact their decisions?

The Student Doctor Network [SDN]  recently completed its second annual user survey of pre-health and health professional students. This presentation will detail the results of the survey, including student perceptions of PPACA, anticipated income, and the choices they are making because of their debt load.

Its founder, Lee A. Burnett, DO, a fellow of the National Conferences, will make the presentation summarizing the SDN survey.

Reacting to Dr Burnett’s report on the Student Doctor Network will be Beth Herman, MPA, who is Director of Graduate Medical Education of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Ms Herman will speak to the recent residency match, as well as her own experience in administering a graduate medical education program comprised a multiple specialties.

Part 3: Revisiting the Class of 2050

Dr Gary LeRoy, Dean of Students at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine gave the 22nd G. Gayle Stephens Lecture at the 23rd National Conference in Carlsbad, California.

To follow up the survey conducted through the Student Docotr Network’s website, www.studentdoctor.net, Dr LeRoy will revisit the theme of his Stephens Lecture, the medical school class of 2050.