Pain, suffering, and premature death caused by illness or disease have affected the human race from the beginning of time. Every society is characterized by the desire to explain mysterious diseases and increase life expectancy for human beings. Beginning in the eighteenth century, medical practitioners began obtaining medical degrees and the practice of regular medicine became more commonplace as a result; however, only an elite few could take advantage of this study due to the expensive cost of the degree and apprenticeship.
As dozens more medical schools began to open their doors to a broader range of people, the quality of instruction began to deteriorate. In general, the only requirement of getting into medical school and graduating with a degree was the ability to pay tuition. Many students exhibited disciplinary problems due to their offensive behavior. In addition, there was virtually no clinical learning experience which would have provided the opportunity for aspiring doctors to work with patients.
Medical education reform began with new ideas that involved more creative ways of learning such as a more active education with hands-on learning. Universities hired experienced medical educators which provided an opportunity for medical students to learn new ways of critical thinking and problem solving.
However, these new teaching methods were more expensive to implement so medical organizations became more involved with the universities to help provide a more active learning experience. The medical organizations that became involved in the learning process included hospitals and medical centers such as the Red Cross or DKMS. These institutes helped students learn how to study, diagnose, provide treatment, and discover possible prevention against diseases and illnesses.
The process of modern medical education developed into stages: pre-medical school, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate, and continuing education. The early stage is considered pre-med and includes undergraduate studies. An undergraduate study in the US typically takes 4 years to complete. Postgraduate studies allow recently graduated students to complete their training by working under the supervision of physicians in hospitals or other clinical settings. Medical organizations promote continuing education among medical practitioners to help them remain up-to-date on medical information and new developments.
