AN EXPERIENCE IN JAPANESE ACADEMIC MEDICINE

The Japanese health care system has been highly praised for its univer sal access, freedom of patient choice, maintenance of a private system , and creative funding. Japanese citizens enjoy general good health, l ow infant mortality, and long life expectancy. Nevertheless, aspects o f Japanese medical education, both graduate and undergraduate, and the structure of academic departments differ from those seen in the Unite d States. A sabbatical spent teaching general internal medicine in Jap an provided the experience for this review of the Japanese system. I d escribe the structure and function of departments of medicine and obse rvations made at daily clinical teaching exercises in hospitals throug hout the country.