Jordan Cohen, MACP, president of the American Association of Medical Colleges, said that efforts within the specialty have helped. Baylor's Dr. Lynch, for example, pointed to state-funded efforts in Texas to place students in general internists' offices for preceptorships in the summer between their second and third years. He also said that internal medicine is getting a boost from the popularity of internal medicine special interest groups or clubs. One such club at Baylor that was started two years ago now has 150 members. The reason for internal medicine's steady growth may be more basic.
Internal medicine offers great flexibility.
Amit Khera, a senior medical student at Baylor who will be doing an internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, shares that sentiment. Mr. Khera said he looks forward not only to developing relationships with patients as an internist, but also to a diverse career. Still others are attracted to internal medicine for more philosophical reasons. Howard Wolinsky is a Chicago-based freelance medicine and technology writer. All rights reserved.