CAPTURING THE PROMISE OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL-SCHOOLS

To gain a better understanding of the effects on medical schools of tr ansformations in medical practice, science, and public expectations, t he Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) constituted the Adv isory Panel on the Mission and Organization of Medical Schools (APMOMS ) in 1994. APMOMS created six working groups to address the issues dee med by panel members to he of highest priority. This article is a repo rt of the findings of the Working Group on Capturing the Promise of Me dical Research, which addressed questions concerning the direction of research and the integration of scientific developments in medical edu cation and practice. The working group explored a broad panorama of is sues, including those related to sustaining the accomplishments, momen tum, and progress of medical research. A dominant theme emerged: the c entral importance of an environment of discovery to the core missions of medical schools. The present article consists of the group's commen ts and recommendations on the main topic - the promise of biomedical r esearch in relation to medical education - and their comments and reco mmendations on five other topics that have important relationships to the main topic and to the group's central charge. These are ethics; ac ademia-industry relations; the administrative structure of medical sch ools; university-medical school relations; and research funding.