From artificial intelligence to gaps in business education, Becker’s asked nine physician leaders: knowing what you know now, what would you do differently during your time in medical school?
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Deborah August, MD. Physician at Nuvance Health (Norwalk, Conn.): The development in med school education that is most concerning now is the elimination of [diversity, equity and inclusion] in admissions, without which we will be unable to educate a diverse physician workforce.
Ed Corbett, MD. Internal Medicine Physician and Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Catalyst (Highland, Utah): If I were starting medical school now, I would make a concerted effort to become AI literate. Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in healthcare, and mastering AI-based tools will be an essential skill for the future. I would prioritize personalized learning through AI-driven platforms, which can identify and close knowledge gaps, allowing me to focus my time on the most productive areas. Additionally, I would seek out innovative AI teaching models that emphasize case-based learning to strengthen my critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills. Beyond technology, I would make a deliberate effort to observe and learn from physicians who exemplify the art of medicine — how they listen, communicate, empathize and show compassion. I would pay close attention to how they respect and treat patients and colleagues alike. I believe that successful physicians of the future will be those who skillfully balance the art of medicine with data-driven, evidence-based and technology-augmented care.
Connie DiMari, MD. Ophthalmologist in New York City: How do you help a medical student develop the clinical judgment necessary to manage AI or clinical decision support tools? There are always exceptions in medicine and worse, you don’t know the population these tools were trained on and if they apply to your patient.
Harry Haus, MD. Medical Director of Dr. Haus & Associates (Erie, Pa.): I would have taken biochemistry, physiology and microbiology as an undergraduate to make medical school classes easier.
Alexander Levit, MD. Medical Director of Hospital at Home at Lee Health (Fort Myers, Fla.): As a preclinical student, I would place more emphasis on the teleological aspect of my studies. Medical students, as intelligent adult learners, would achieve a more robust knowledge fingerprint if the focus on their studies was a “why” of bodily processes — as opposed to memorization of lists of scientific facts. Such memorization needs to occur in this field but will not be retained for good use if there is not a spirit of big picture understanding.
As a clinical student, I would be more intentional about seeking short-term feedback from preceptors who did not volunteer this on an informal basis.
Po Raval, DPM. Podiatry Specialist in Waldwick, N.J.: As a private practitioner for 36 years in New Jersey, medical school should be gearing its education in the last year towards choices students have in healthcare and exposing them to the challenges they must tackle outside of school. This is the focus I would have developed before graduating
In the last semester (after residency matches), I would have taken courses that included:
- How to start a medical business, including basics to starting your own office or own practice within a larger group. These must include time frames for hiring staff, advertising, picking software, ordering supplies and furniture.
- Options and pros and cons for employment, including private practice, group practice, research, teaching, salaried vs. insurance-only pay.
- Basic accounting.
- Basics of business structure for tax and liability purpose.
- How to evaluate an employment contract.
Nowadays, students can work with a SCORE.com mentor on YouTube (DocDynasty.com is mine), or work during school in specialist offices before graduating to learn the day to day of practicing.
Tom Shaffrey, MD. Hospitalist in Bound Brook, N.J.: To have spent “free time” educating myself on the fundamentals of business, and particularly the realities of running a medical practice. Second, to become active in medical societies and more politically aware/astute.
Sheldon Taub, MD. Gastroenterologist at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center: Medical training has changed drastically over the last 50 years. Knowing what I know now, I certainly think it would’ve been helpful to have business courses taught, as well as instructing how to communicate effectively with insurance companies. When I trained, computers were not part of the system. Today, it’s critically important to have good basic knowledge and computer skills. Analyzing scientific information was never taught, and I think, the ability to discern fact from fiction is critically important. The physician-centered care model has disappeared, so it’s important that training now includes working in interprofessional teams. Shared decision-making with the patient is now of utmost importance, and this was never taught previously. Physicians’ mental and physical health was never taken into consideration, and I feel now there is stronger emphasis on these aspects of medical training.
Marla Tobin, MD. Former Family Medicine Physician and First Woman Resident Chair at National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students: Although I think I had a wonderful experience, I probably could have been a better student focusing on studying more and stepping forward to try new things or search out new procedures and learning experiences to broaden my education. I really wish I would have had a chance for an international experience because travel is so important when you are young and the world has become much more international in medicine. We live in such an exciting world and medicine has so much happening that continues to fascinate me.
