The number of medical school applications for the class of 2001 was down six percent from 2000 and nearly 10 percent from 1999. It's the fifth straight year of decline, a sign that a career in medicine is slowly losing much of its luster.
Experts cite several reasons for the fading attraction of medicine including:
The fact that medical students now finish their education with an average debt of $100,000 isn't helping either.
The reality has long been that only the best and the brightest college graduates get into medical school, but the continued decline in applications suggests that many of the smartest graduates are seeking other careers in less problem-prone fields.
American Medical News October 21, 2002 page 36
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Decreasing applications to medical schools is exactly what one would predict based upon the rigid adherence to a fatally flawed paradigm. Medical schools used to attract some of the brightest college graduates, but clearly this is not the current trend. Bright college students can see the writing on the wall, and they don't want any part of it.
As I said earlier this year on a related topic:
Most physicians earn a reasonable income, but as most of us know money can't buy you happiness.
Physicians also have a well-noted tendency to not take care of their own physical health.
These facts, coupled with the observations in the article above, provide the foundation for a much-needed, radical transformation in our health care system. Anyone who understands the truth of health will quickly recognize that the traditional allopathic Western model is a prescription for disaster.
The more we focus on drugs and surgery for the solution of disease, the more frustrated physicians will get.
Fundamentally, most physicians truly desire to serve their patients and help them get better. Unfortunately, with their current tools they will not be able to do that very well.
The Internet has accelerated this process of needed transformation by helping many understand other options that are available to address their health concerns.
It is my sincere desire to facilitate this transformation by catalyzing the process through an effective databank of information on this Web site and by networking with other clinicians to allow most to practically implement these suggestions on a local basis.
I really can't say much more at this point, but I can assure you that you will see some very exciting developments on this site in the very near future.
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