Medical education in the USA

After finishing primary school and secondary studies at the age of 18, the candidate for a medical school must complete at least three years of higher education in a college or university.

This period of college or university studies is called «the pre-medical phase». The students who are taking this course of studies preparing them for a medical school are called «pre-meds». A student applies to a medical school when he has completed pre-medical studies. The application costs approximately $ 50.

Academic achievement is the most important factor in the selection of students. In most medical schools candidates are required to pass the admission test. This is a national multiple-choice test. The test lasts about eight hours over a one-day period and include questions in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English. Then, special admission committees have personal interviews with the applicant in order to assess the candidate's general qualities, his character and his ability to study medicine.

The competition among the applicants is very high and only about half of those who apply to medical school are accepted and begin their medical education. By the way, what we call «medical school» is «medical institute» in your country.

The curriculum of medical schools in the USA does not greatly differ from the curriculum in other medical institutes. The basic sciences are taught largely during the first two years of medical studies. For instance, in the first year at Johns Hopkins students study anatomy, biophysics, biochemistry, physiology, bacteriology, histology and other subjects. In the second year they study microbiology, pathology, physical diagnosis, pharmacology and laboratory diagnosis.

The curriculum of the final two years includes clinical subjects. Medical students do their practicum at teaching hospitals affiliated to the medical school. Students in small groups meet their teachers in the yards and in the out-patient departments where they participate in the treatment of patients.   

At the end of four years all students receive the Degree of Doctor of Medicine, that is the M.D. Then they must work for one year as interns. This course of training at the hospital or clinic is called an internship.

After their internship young doctors must have period of residency at the clinic. The period of residency is obligatory for all medical graduates. This period varies, depending on the specialty of the doctor. Generally, the period of residency is three or four years. For instance, residency in surgery and neurosurgery in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine lasts four years. Residency in internal medicine, preventive medicine and radiology- lasts for three years. After the residency, the graduate is granted a license to practice and he may work cither in government service or in private practice.

Medical schools are gradually increasing their tuition fee in all the universities of the USA. Only a small percentage of the students receive scholarships. The majority of the students have to work to pay for their studies. The government-financed universities charge less, while the tuition of the private colleges and universities is extremely high.

Ex.1 Find English equivalents. Найдите английские эквиваленты.

студенты младших курсов мединститута; тестовый экзамен с ответами в виде множественного выбора; доктор медицины; личное собеседование; ординатор; входящий в структуру института; приемная комиссия; плата за обучение; частная практика.

Ex.3 Answer the questions. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What must the candidate for a medical school complete after finishing primary school?

2. Academic achievement is the most important factor in the selection of students, isn’t it?

3. Is the competition among the applicants high?

4. What is the curriculum of medical schools in the USA?

5. When do all students receive the M.D.?

6. Is the education in the USA charged?

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MEDICAL EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

All establishments of higher medical education are financed and guided by the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation.

Doctors of different specialties are trained at medical institutions of higher education, at medical universities and academies. There are also pharmaceutical academies, which train specialists in pharmacy.

Medical institutions of higher education offer various faculties and specialties which an entrant may choose according to his or her abilities and wishes. Nowadays a new examination system is being introduced. The so-called «The General State Exam» allows pupils to enter any institution of higher education according to its results.

Medical colleges train paramedical personnel: nurses, midwives, dental technicians and doctor’s assistants. The course of studies is 3-4 years.

The training at medical institutions of higher education takes 5 or 6 years. It consists of lectures, practical classes and medical practice. The attendance of lectures, practical classes and seminars4 is compulsory. Academic year begins on September the 1 stand is divided into two semesters of four months each. At the end of each semester the students have to pass examinations and tests. If a student passes the exams well he gets a grant paid monthly. paramedical personnel. For the first two years students study pre-clinical subjects such as: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Social Sciences, Latin and so on. They also study Human Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, and Microbiology. Clinical subjects are taught from the third to the fifth or sixth year.

The students have practical course at therapeutic, surgical and other departments in hospitals and clinics. They master practical skills in clinical conditions. They are taught how to take and record the patient’s case history, to carry on medical examination of the patient, to make diagnosis, to prescribe treatment and carry on different medical procedures. There are all facilities for talented students to carry on research work. They attend scientific societies at different departments where they are offered modern guidelines for research activity. Having passed state examinations graduates receive their diplomas and can apply for clinical internship.

The post graduate course and the Institute of Post-Diploma and Additional Education are for doctors, paramedical personnel. During three years the post-graduate students prepare a thesis, defend it and obtain the degree of Candidate of Medical Sciences.

Words:

1. medical education - медицинское образование

2. establishment - учреждение

3. to finance- финансировать

4. to guide - руководить

5. to train - обучать

6. institution of higher education - высшее учебное заведение (вуз)

7. pharmaceutical - фармацевтический

8. pharmacy - фармация

9. entrant - абитуриент

10. ability -способность

11. to introduce - вводить, представлять

12. General State Exam Единый – Государственный Экзамен (ЕГЭ)

13. to allow- позволять

14. paramedical personnel - средний медицинский персонал

15. nurse - медсестра

16. midwife - акушерка

17. dental technician - зубной техник

18.doctor’s assistant - фельдшер

19. attendance of lectures - посещение лекций

20. compulsory - обязательный

21. semester - семестр

22. grant - стипендия

23. curriculum - учебный план

24. pre-clinical subjects - доклинические, теоретические предметы

25. to teach (taught, taught) - учить, преподавать

26. social sciences - общественные науки

27. surgical - хирургический

28. to master - овладевать

29. practical skills - практические навыки

30. to record - записывать, заполнять

31.patient’s case history - история болезни пациента

32. to carry on medical examination - проводить медицинский осмотр

33. to make diagnosis - ставить диагноз

34. to treat - лечить

35. to prescribe - прописывать

36. medical procedure - медицинская процедура

37. facilities - возможности

38.research work - научно-исследовательская работа

39. scientific society - научное общество, кружок

40. department - отделение, кафедра

41. modern guidelines - современные направления

42. state examinations - государственные экзамены

43. graduate - выпускник

44. to apply- подать заявление

45. clinical internship- клиническая ординатура

46. post graduate course- аспирантура

47. post graduate student- аспирант

48. the Institute of Post-Diploma - институт последипломного

49. and Additional Education и дополнительного образования

50. to improve улучшать, совершенствовать

51. to prepare a thesis - готовить диссертацию

52. to defend a thesis- защитить диссертацию

53. to obtain a degree - получить степень