The Next Frontier of Medical Education

The panel discussion featured John Doar as the moderator, with Dr. Sharmila from the Alisal Walton school of medicine, Dr. Zeke Emanuel from the University of Pennsylvania, and Alice L Walton, a philanthropist and founder of Alisal Walton Foundation, as the panelists. They discussed about the evolution and future of medical education, with a focus on digital health, artificial intelligence, and training methods.

Alice Walton emphasized the need for change in current healthcare delivery and cost models to avoid bankruptcy. She aims to create a medical school that prepares students for 21st-century medicine, with a key focus on value-based payment and preventive health. She is also investing in virtual health technologies to address healthcare access issues in rural areas and is passionate about increasing diversity in the healthcare industry.

Dr. Zeke feels that medical education should be shortened and focus on competencies rather than duration. He advocates for a smoother transition from medical school to internships and residencies. He pointed out the minimal education in important areas like nutrition and social determinants of health and the outdated aspects of the current curriculum.

Dr. Sharmila talked about redesigning the curriculum to better prepare students and creating a culture of self-care. She believes there is a need to address all of a patient's needs—social, emotional, and mental well-being.

The panelists touched upon value-based care, the role of self-insured employers in healthcare changes, the misallocation of medical professionals, and the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare. They emphasized the importance of behavioral change and the need to use technology to free up doctors' time for patient care.