A pioneering on medical education: The seminal text of J.P. Frank's De medicis peregrinationibus – Medical travels (1792)

Abstract

Abstract Background Medical travel is a general term for all journeys made by a health professional, and are common practice for education and training as a significant globalised topic in modern medical education, and their relevance dates back far into history. Methods A historical-documental method is used in this study. It re-examines and discusses critically the J.P. Frank text De medicis peregrinationibus (medical travel) written in 1792. Findings This paper enlightens on the meaning and usefulness of medical travels towards the end of the 18th century. A critical review of the text is carried out in order to compare medical travel and medical education towards the end of the 18th century with the same travel and education today. The authors discuss a number of relevant points that Frank makes regarding travelling physicians, the meaning and usefulness of medical travels, as well as about a proposed curriculum for travelling physicians that could still be followed today. Conclusions As a general conclusion, Frank's paper could be considered a seminal work on medical travel for educational purposes. His observations are still relevant today, reflected in students travelling abroad as part of mobility programmes in medical education.