Physiologists at US medical schools: education, current status, and trends in diversity.

In 1989, APS requested information from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Roster System (FRS) concerning the status of two groups of faculty members in US medical schools: 1) faculty who hold PhD degrees in physiology and 2) faculty members with appointments in departments of physiology. The data provided by the AAMC were used by the Long Range Planning Committee in the development of its report on the health of physiology (1). In 1994, APS requested an update of information on physiologists on the faculty of medical schools from the AAMC. The data provided by the 1994 AAMC Faculty Roster survey provide insights into changes that have occurred among the physiology faculty at these institutions. Information on graduate degrees in physiology also was requested from the National Research Council Survey of Earned Doctorates, which students complete when they receive their doctoral degree (2).