Interdependence of Medical and Allied Health Education

Abstract

My first reaction, when asked to speak about the interdependence of medical and allied health education, was that this would be an easy topic. I could simply say that there is precious little. Probably this would be the most provocative approach to the problem. I have given much thought to the existing patterns of education for these two branches of health, and it is obvious that interrelationship could be greatly improved. But the question of how best to achieve this is not so simple. I don't pretend to understand all of the problems, let alone have the solutions. During the past two days, I have been meeting with the Student American Medical Association where the medical students have been addressing themselves to some of these very same problems. This has been a very interesting experience. Let's begin by looking briefly at existing educational processes in the allied health professions. If