From Library Journal
By the late 1800s, a typical American physician had received his formal train ing at one of the nation's two dozen proprietary medical schools. Admis sion standards were lax, the curriculum covered two four-month terms, no writ ten examinations were required, and little clinical experience was offered. Ludmerer provides an engrossing nar rative history of the rise of the modern medical college and teaching hospital from these rather shaky beginnings. He has compressed a considerable amount of historical data into readable prose, often providing fresh perspective on the major social, scientific, and peda gogical forces that have shaped the course of medical education since the 19th century. Especially interesting is an extensive section on early reform movements and their influence. Rec ommended. Richard H. Quay, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, Ohio
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Learning to Heal is the best description I have read on the development of US medical schools, and it's an informative reminder to all US medical graduates of where their education came from." -- The Lancet
"Kenneth Ludmerer's excellent book tells the fascinating story of how the United States achieved its world leadership in medical education... The best study yet of the origins of modern medical education." -- James H. Jones, New York Times Book Review
"A brilliant interpretation of the origins of modern medical education... A stunning achievement." -- Thomas N. Bonner, American Historical Review
"An excellent work of scholarship, compressing a relatively vast literature into a readable and informative volume." -- Gordon T. Moore, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine
"Learning to Heal should be recommended reading for every student, practitioner, faculty member, or administrator concerned with the past, present, and future of American medical education and practice." -- Alberto Galofré, M.D., Journal of the American Medical Association
"A first-rate storyteller." -- Sherman Mellinkoff, Los Angeles Times Book Review
See all Editorial Reviews