Medical Students in Appalachia: A Training Program in Community Medicine

Health conditions are intimately involved with CD, both as cause & effect of econ & educ'al conditions. U of Kentucky Med students study the total health of communities in Appalachian as well as Ur areas of Ky to reveal these interrelationships. Diagnosis of these communities through Med evaluation then leads to prescribing both Med & other measures indicated to improve community health & CD. Med students have been well received in the communities studied, where they are sponsored by local MD's. During the 6 weeks of residency in the community, the role of the Med student often is that of a change agent for improvement in health services through his studies of existing conditions & practices. The study of community medicine in turn is expected to change the Med student in his att's about the health needs of pop's & communities. The MD-patient relationship is expanded to include the whole of society in the professional concern of the MD. AA.