Today, patients can be certain that a doctor they see in Maine has met virtually the same educational demands as a doctor in California. Medical education and training continue to change, reflecting societal needs and dramatic scientific developments that every day take medicine to new levels. But behind these breathtaking scientific advances and new approaches to learning lives a philosophy as old as medicine itself. Every physician pledges to put his or her patients first, to make every effort to provide the best possible care. Patients help doctors learn and have lessons to teach even the most seasoned physicians.
Many patients find the role they play in medical education and training extremely rewarding.
They can make a young student feel comfortable performing his or her first physical examination, or can help an experienced doctor see an old problem in a new light. Patients should always feel comfortable asking questions about their treatment and the people who provide it. They should also understand that in many cases, the people who care for them are at different points on the road to becoming a doctor. Patients play a vital role in helping them reach their destination. Medical schools and teaching hospitals can't train physicians alone.