3 ms·

The US med/school complex is regulated by the AMA based on the number of residency slots. The schools get high tuitions and the restricted supply means we get

The US med/school complex is regulated by the AMA based on the number of residency slots. The schools get high tuitions and the restricted supply means we get less but higher paid doctors. The US doesn't have enough doctors and accordingly there is a large amount of medicine that we don't need doctors for such that PAs and NPs are taking over. In reality O-chem should not be a pre-med class nor should it be required by medical schools. Other countries admit straight to med school without a BS requirement. It's really more about, how much do you really want this and less about the coursework. However, O-chem probably wouldn't have any students if it wasn't a premed course either.

timr 4y ago
100% agreed, except for the last line. There are plenty of O-chem dorks! It doesn't come into its own until you start applying it to problems, then it's fun. Also, O-chem would be a lot more fun if it were actually a small lecture course. Pre-med ruins it by turning it into "memorize this book of obscure recipes". You might as well point them to the Joy of Cooking and have them memorize that, instead. Same purpose, but at least the outcome would be delicious.
colinmhayes 4y ago
The AMA doesn’t control med schools at all. What they do is lobby the government to not increase subsidies for residencies. Without more subsidies new residencies don’t open, and since every med school grad needs to do it to become a doctor med schools can’t open more slots until the number of residencies increases.
- nradov 4y ago
  That is partially misinformation. The AMA lobbies Congress to increase funding for residencies. https://savegme.org/ https://savegme.org/
  - theGnuMe 4y ago
    It's great how they get to blame Congress... instead hospitals and academic institutions could just you know fund residencies themselves. It's not like they can't afford it.
    - nradov 4y ago
      Teaching hospitals are mostly non-profit, often tied to universities or public health systems. They have limited funds. Some do put in a little of their own funding for graduate medical education, but realistically you're not going to squeeze much more out of them. If you don't believe me then download their financial reports and look where their money is going.

timr 4y ago

100% agreed, except for the last line. There are plenty of O-chem dorks! It doesn't come into its own until you start applying it to problems, then it's fun. Also, O-chem would be a lot more fun if it were actually a small lecture course. Pre-med ruins it by turning it into "memorize this book of obscure recipes". You might as well point them to the Joy of Cooking and have them memorize that, instead. Same purpose, but at least the outcome would be delicious.

colinmhayes 4y ago

The AMA doesn’t control med schools at all. What they do is lobby the government to not increase subsidies for residencies. Without more subsidies new residencies don’t open, and since every med school grad needs to do it to become a doctor med schools can’t open more slots until the number of residencies increases.

nradov 4y ago
That is partially misinformation. The AMA lobbies Congress to increase funding for residencies. https://savegme.org/ https://savegme.org/
- theGnuMe 4y ago
  It's great how they get to blame Congress... instead hospitals and academic institutions could just you know fund residencies themselves. It's not like they can't afford it.
  - nradov 4y ago
    Teaching hospitals are mostly non-profit, often tied to universities or public health systems. They have limited funds. Some do put in a little of their own funding for graduate medical education, but realistically you're not going to squeeze much more out of them. If you don't believe me then download their financial reports and look where their money is going.