The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) is a broadly used instrument developed to measure empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care. Evidence in support of psychometrics of the JSE has been reported in health professions students and practitioners with the exception of osteopathic medical students. This study was…

The hypothesis that the relationship between medical school achievement and postgraduate performance would vary by specialty was confirmed in a comparison of grades, standardized medical exams, and ratings in four areas of competence (medical knowledge, data-gathering skills, clinical judgment, and professional attitudes) in internal medicine,…

Pennsylvania developed a generalist physician initiative, inspired by that of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, initiating a longitudinal tracking system at six allopathic and two osteopathic medical schools to follow students from matriculation into professional careers. The statewide database includes information on over 18,000 students,…

A survey of 364 men and 86 women medical school graduates found women less likely to be employed full-time or have outside professional activities, more likely to hold full-time academic appointments, to treat low-income patients, and to serve in inner cities. Women worked fewer hours, had fewer patients, but published scientific articles as…

A study was conducted of 610 medical students to determine whether postbaccalaureate preparation before matriculation in medical school effected student performance. Results showed lower achievement on some measures of performance in medical school by those who had taken nondegree postbaccalaureate courses. Implications for admission decisions are…

A survey of 530 male and 137 female graduates of Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) found numerous gender differences in their assessments of selected areas of the medical school curriculum, issues of medical practice and professional life, and specialty choices, professional activities, and research productivity. (Author/MSE)

Graduates (n=638) of Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) were divided into primary care and nonprimary care physicians and compared on performance measures, professional activities, satisfaction, problems, and research productivities. A logistic regression model could predict primary care-nonprimary care status from specialty interest,…

A study investigated, first, the percentage of medical students maintaining interest in obstetrics/gynecology during medical school compared to those maintaining interest in other specialties and, second, changes of interest from obstetrics/gynecology to other specialties and other specialties to obstetrics/gynecology. Results indicate instability…

Surveyed African American and White physicians to compare their satisfaction with medical school, their medical career, and their professional and research activities and achievements. Found that respondents were comparable as to their careers, professional activities, and achievements. African Americans' practice patterns reflected a greater…