Summary- “To Train Physicians of the Future We Can’t Be Stuck in the Past”
Summary-
“To Train Physicians of the Future We Can’t Be Stuck in the Past”
By: Dr. Robert A. Harrington & Dr. Jeffrey T. Kuvin
Published: May 5, 2025
Source: The Bob Harrington Show | theheart.org on Medscape
Key Summary Points
1. Medical Education Needs a Paradigm Shift
• Medical training should reflect that CME spans 40 years, yet most focus is still on undergrad and residency.
• Learning must be lifelong, personalized, and flexible — not just test-focused.
2. How We Learn Has Changed
• Traditional methods (textbooks, lectures) are outdated.
• Modern learners prefer visual, chunked, interactive, and AI-integrated formats.
• Medical knowledge is accessible — the key is knowing how to apply it.
3. Competency Over Time, Not Time-Based Training
• Training duration (e.g., 3 years of internal medicine) should be reconsidered.
• Competency-based models should replace rigid time-based programs.
• Some learners may achieve mastery in 2 years, others in 4 — flexibility is crucial.
4. Modernizing Fellowship Paths
• Cardiology training should have multiple entry pathways, e.g.:
• From med school → interventional track.
• From internal medicine → general or heart failure.
• Similar to thoracic surgery and dermatology, cardiology should adapt to custom tracks.
5. Assessment Beyond Multiple-Choice Tests
• Competency should be measured through:
• Simulation
• Skills application
• Team-based performance
• The board exam must evolve beyond memory-based evaluations.
6. Teaching Critical Non-Clinical Skills
• Systems-based practice, financial literacy (e.g., RVUs, private equity), and teamwork are essential.
• Trainees should learn to manage practices and navigate the business of medicine.
7. Role of a New Cardiology Board
• ACC and AHA proposed a new cardiology-specific board under ABMS — denied (as of 2025).
• Vision: A board overseeing lifelong learning starting post-medical school, not just a test.
• Alternative models may be needed as demand for change is immediate, not in 2 years.
8. Call for Tailored Certification
• Cardiologists should be certified in their actual scope of practice.
• Board processes should support growth, identify knowledge gaps, and provide resources, not be punitive.
9. Future of Medical School
• Example: Zucker School of Medicine integrates EMT training, problem-solving, and anatomy with imaging from Day 1.
• Eliminating the outdated 2+2 model (basic → clinical) encourages clinical reasoning early.
10. Preparing the Future Workforce
• Fellowship training should be modular based on individual goals (practice, research, structural, etc.).
• A foundational understanding of research and business is essential for all, even non-academics.
11. Team-Based Competency
• Future care is delivered in multidisciplinary teams.
• Certification and education should assess team-based outcomes, not just physician performance.
Link: Medscape article.