Starting point

SECOND OPINION
BY SIDNEY HARRIS

More premed courses should be required

I applaud and agree with the concepts expressed in “Reform of Premed Education Under Way” [Yale Medicine, Winter 2009].

My own case in point: I went to Stanford as an undergraduate, majoring in biology and chemistry. I took organic chemistry as a freshman, and took two statistics courses and a general psychology course, all of which should be required. I wanted to take biochemistry, but was not allowed to, since I was a premedical student and would have the same course in medical school. I took virtually every other chemistry course offered, including the second-year/graduate biochemistry courses—17 chemistry courses in all.

I would wish to require the following courses or the equivalent knowledge for premedical students, in addition to the liberal arts components: general statistics, biochemistry, and psychology. My own experience of 40 years in practice has made me aware of the need to understand business principles and such diverse topics as cultural and religious viewpoints toward health. I presume that computer literacy is a given (I typed my M.D. thesis in 1960 on a portable typewriter over and over until I got it right).

As the article by Jennifer Kaylin suggests, it would be wonderful if there were some preparatory coursework for beginning medical students covering the wide scope of worldviews and personal interactions needed by caring and capable physicians. As an oncologist, I have developed productive and useful ways of dealing with terminal illness that are seldom shared with health care professionals. As Averill Liebow, M.D., told us in 1958, “You are students of medicine, not schoolboys.”

Malin Dollinger, M.D. ’60
Palos Verdes, Calif.

Propaganda and the law of unintended consequences

I am sorry I cannot be in New Haven to see the exhibit of anti-VD posters used by the armed forces in World War II. It brings back some poignant memories [“Cautionary Tales for WWII GIs,” Yale Medicine, Spring 2009].

I served in 1946 as radiologist to the 155th Station Hospital in Yokohama, Japan, also serving as pharmacy officer along with responsibility for two VD wards and VD education for our own hospital detachment. In the latter capacity I was required to give a series of lectures and to use posters, and more importantly, a series of excellent movies with story lines regarding the dangers of unsafe sex.

The Army was segregated in those days, and we had different movies for white and black soldiers. The femme fatale in the black movie was one of the most beautiful and provocative females I had ever seen. I was surprised when I received requests from our white GIs to show the black movie rather than the other. During this period I was informed by 8th Army HQ that the VD rate in the hospital was starting to rise.

It was suggested by an old sergeant that I try showing the movies at the beginning of the day rather than just before the end. I was too inexperienced to realize that when the boys watched the temptress at work their hormone titers rose to astronomical heights and they immediately sought out the nearest brothel. When the film was shown early, its effects had a whole day to wear off. Although the new timing was not a popular move, the VD rate did drop to more manageable levels.

So while the propaganda might have had some positive results, it fell victim to the Law of Unintended Consequences. This was one of the best lessons I took home from my military career.

Raymond A. Gagliardi, M.D. ’45
Boca Raton, Fla.

Correction

A photograph that appeared in “200 Years of Medicine at Yale,” [Yale Medicine, Spring 2009, page 20] was incorrectly credited. The photograph is part of the A.C. Gilbert Papers, Manuscripts and Archives, Sterling Memorial Library.

Starting point:

A survey, a redesign, and a more frugal approach

Our thanks go to all of you who participated in our readership survey, not only for taking the time to reply, but also for the enthusiastic support you have shown for Yale Medicine. Most of you like what we’re doing, but you also gave us ideas about how to do better. More than two-thirds of you ranked Yale Medicine “above average” or “among the best” alumni magazines you read, and almost 60 percent of you feel more engaged with the School of Medicine after reading Yale Medicine. You liked our mix of articles, but about half of you asked for more in-depth articles about medicine and science, and many of you asked for more news of alumni and faculty.

We will be thinking about your ideas, suggestions, and responses as we begin our redesign of Yale Medicine. The survey was the necessary first step prior to redesigning—we wanted to know what you, our readers, think about the magazine. For more on the survey, visit yalemedicine.yale.edu/readersurvey.

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