Peter A. Goldstein, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, was the lead author of a recent article in the journal Perspectives in Medical Education. His piece advocated that the process of educating future physicians should begin earlier, as well as incorporate more direct interaction with, and observation of, working physicians.
Dr. Goldstein spoke with the Weill Cornell Newsroom earlier this month on the points his essay was advocating. He argued that future physicians could begin to learn basic patient-care practices as undergraduates, and also begin to directly observe physicians in action as they practice, which is known as shadowing. Exposing undergraduates to these experiences would give them a head-start on learning practices that usually begin during medical school.
Such experiences would “help [students] understand what it’s like to be a healthcare professional,” Dr. Goldstein said, as well as helping them to develop inter-personal skills in order to relate to patients on a human level. The Newsroom article also pointed out several Cornell University programs where these practices are already underway.