Undergraduate Education in the Medical Specialties: The Case of Neurology

Traditionally, the purpose of undergraduate education at virtually all medical schools has been to prepare students to enter practice immediately after graduation. Early in this century, a rotating internship was added as a requirement. It was not until the 1950s that virtually all graduates were expected to complete a residency in a specialty of medicine before they went into practice. This requirement radically altered the task of undergraduate medical education. Its purpose now is to provide students with a foundation that will prepare them for entry into medicine through postgraduate education in one of an increasing number of specialties.Since . . .