The inclusion of formal courses in medical ethics as part of standard
undergraduate medical education has not led to widespread confidence i
n the moral and professional development of young physicians. As impor
tant as classes on informed consent and other such topics are, alterna
tive approaches to professional moral development are needed. One exam
ple can be found in The U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Programs, which now su
pport over 100 health professions students annually in six locations.
Fellows participate in activities designed to strengthen the ideals th
at originally attracted them to medicine and other health care fields.
Because Dr. Schweitzer is remembered primarily for the way he transla
ted his ideals of human service into action, the core activity of each
program is a direct-service project that addresses an important unmet
health need oi the local community or individuals in the community, w
ith the support of community-based and school-based mentors. Alumni of
these programs report that their experiences as Schweitzer fellows ha
ve helped them integrate their own ideals into their professional and
career development. Such systematic efforts to recognize and support t
he latent idealism of young health professionals may strengthen the mo
ral dimensions of professional life in ways that have broad social ben
efits.