Should physiology training be divorced from the medical curriculum. Introduction.

Many Departments of Physiology are administratively and fiscally in medical schools. Consequently, graduate students in these departments interact with medical faculty and medical students. They frequently take courses with medical students. From time to time the question has been asked whether this arrangement is in the best interest of the physiology graduate student and, since the discipline of physiology is perpetuated through the graduate student, in the best interest of physiology. Some of the goals of physiology and medicine differ; some physiologists, by the nature of their training, are more committed to teaching medical students than graduate students; and some departments are small and lack the breadth necessary for individualization of the graduate students program. Over the years, occasional attempts were made to solve these problems. In general, however, the attempts were not very vigorous because there are redeeming features in the arrangement. Some of the goals of physiology and medicine are synergistic; the graduate student benefits from the interchange; and there are practical reasons for the association. Since the pressure for change was not really great and the system seemed to work, the question was soon forgotten.