Characteristics of a Good Medical School Spotlighted by Lydia Conlay

PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 17, 2013

Lydia Conlay, the Russell D. And Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology at the University Of Missouri College Of Medicine has spent a great deal of her career educating students within the medical field. As such, she is certainly familiar with the various ways in which these institutions of higher learning are able to bring value to their students. Here, Dr. Conlay responds with a statement to the press to an article posted by The Atlantic that asks, "What makes a medical school great?"

According to the article, reputation is a highly powerful factor that is, more often than not, reflected in the rankings that schools hold. Cost, too, is a consideration that students make when choosing which medical school to attend, as is the school's culture. But the article asserts that value should be the most important element that students and their families should think about when making this decision.

"What makes a medical school great? The ability to teach its students how to be the very best doctors and to provide the very best medical care possible," asserts Lydia Conlay. "In the United States, most medical schools accomplish this task. Indeed, as demonstrated on standardized national tests, the difference in the education provided by schools at the top of ranking lists versus the bottom of ranking lists is not as great as in many other post-graduate training fields."

Dr. Conlay goes on to explain: "But what makes a medical school a great value is a different question altogether. Whether it provides a great education is of course important, and as above, pretty much a given. Will it position the student to get a residency in the field he or she wants, or at the institution he or she wants? And what about the incredible cost of tuition? And what if the student decides to marry another medical student--doubling this cost or debt burden?"

Furthermore, Dr. Conlay notes, "the factors are all important in considering what makes a great medical school and, particularly, what makes a great medical school for a given student. Culture during the four years of training is no doubt an important factor. But how important is culture, when compared to the possibility of a half million dollar debt?"

Lydia Conlay urges medical students to take the time to research the various schools that are open to them and to determine which educational institution will best match their personal goals and expectations.

ABOUT:

Lydia Conlay, the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology at the University Of Missouri College Of Medicine, has held a wide range of positions over the course of her career. Dr. Conlay has done extensive work in the education field by teaching in both formal classrooms and hospitals. Additionally, she is a published researcher and has contributed to numerous professional organizations. Some of these include: American Society of Anesthesiologists, Society for Ambulatory Anesthesiologists, Association of University Anesthesiologists, and Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists.

Website: http://lydiaconlay.org/