ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE CONTENT IN MEDICAL-SCHOOL CURRICULA

Background. The Institute of Medicine has recommended basic clinical c ompetence in environmental medicine (EM) for all physicians. However, the amount and content of instruction in EM currently offered in U.S. medical schools is unknown. Method. This cross-sectional study was bas ed on responses to a questionnaire regarding the EM curriculum content of U.S. medical schools, mailed in June 1994 with the Association of American Medical Colleges curriculum survey. Results. Of the 126 schoo ls, 119 (94%) responded. Of these, 29 (24%) reported no required EM co ntent in the curriculum. Schools with EM content averaged seven hours of instruction. Eighty one schools (68%) had faculty with environmenta l and occupational medicine expertise, primarily within the department s of medicine, preventive medicine, and family medicine. Conclusion. T here is a need for increased instruction in EM in medical school curri cula for students to acquire the knowledge and skills to prevent, diag nose, and treat health problems with an environmental exposure compone nt. For those schools without EM content in the cur curriculum, the ne cessary expertise to develop EM curriculum may be available in current faculty.