The Education of American Physicians: Historical Essays

The challenge of organizing a history of medical education is not unlike the challenge of medical education itself. Which way and how thick does one slice the vast loaf to provide nourishing, palatable, and attractive substance for further growth? What should be included and what must be trimmed away? This requires a good understanding of the subject, sound judgment, and a set of values, which give overall shape and character to the whole. Professor Numbers and his colleagues have demonstrated these qualities admirably in putting together this fine collection of historical essays.Martin Kaufman's excellent overview at the beginning provides a sensitive, integrative framework for the individual parts as represented by 12 significant disciplines. The subjects are well balanced between the basic sciences, the clinical specialties, and broader sociomedical fields, including public health and medical ethics. All are interesting as well as informative, with an index and appropriate footnotes, which