SURVEY ON THE PROFESSIONALISM OF MEDICAL TEACHERS IN MEXICO

Objective. We explored the type of academic training and labor relatio nship of medical teachers in the schools of medicine in Mexico. Method s. We considered two types of academic training (formal and informal) and of labor relations (primary and secondary): we considered a teache r as professional when he or she had formal training and a primary rel ationship with the school. A questionnaire was applied to 436 medical professors chosen at random from 10 medical schools (who were selected as representatives of the 10 types of medical schools identified by c rossing characteristics of financing (public vs private), curricula (t raditional vs modular), size (< 500 vs greater than or equal to 500 st udents) and longevity (established before 1970 vs 1970+). Results. Onl y 2.8% (n = 12) of the teachers had a professional standing, and in pr ivate schools the proportion decreased to 1.3%. Conclusions. Medical e ducation as a professional activity was seen in very few teachers. Med ical education in Mexico appears to be a secondary and informal activi ty for a large number of teachers.