Medical Education in Japan: Changes and Challenges / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

Medical education programs of USA leading to the Medical Doctor are offered not only from 125 medical schools where only those who completed a four-year undergraduate college can apply for admission, but also from a combined post high school M. D. educational programs (PHM) equipped with the one-third of the 125 medical schools. In response to more frequent patient reports of dissatisfaction with their physicians' interpersonal skills and conducts towards patients, medical educators have emphasized the importance of personal and professional conduct among applicants for medical licensure. In 1984, the AAMC published the report entitled “Project Panel on the General Professional Education of the Physician and College Preparation for Medicine (subsequently referred to as “The GPEP Report” )” which ensured medical students' access to opportunities for more active learning, better integrated learning, and more patientoriented learning in medical school. In view of the current situation of the medical school in USA, the author strongly emphasized medical education reform in Japan to restructure the medical education to a four-year undergraduate college plus four-year medical school curriculum. If efforts to reconstruct the medical education system will be successful in the future, the author recommends significant changes in entrance examination so as to reconsider the content, timing and the process of their assessment techniques as well.