Medical education is changing across the world. In a recent op-ed in Crain's New York Business, Paul Alexander — a political writer — argues that New York hospitals should adopt the industry's newest trend.
Various foreign medical schools — many of which are in the Caribbean — have started paying U.S. hospitals for clinical rotations, which consist of student clerkships. These medical schools typically pay American hospitals as much as $400 or $500 per week per student. But medical administrators in New York are hoping to halt the practice, and have even approached the New York State Education Department Board of Regents in an attempt to ban paid clerkships.
Mr. Alexander believes the Board of Regents should deny the ban because it "will only exacerbate the doctor shortage and reduce the number of minority doctors practicing in New York," he wrote in the op-ed.
Approximately 90 percent of foreign medical students are American students studying abroad, according to Mr. Alexander. If New York hospitals allow foreign medical students to utilize paid clerkships, many of the students will remain in the state to practice, thereby reducing the physician shortage.
In addition, bringing in foreign medical students will broaden physician diversity. In 2011, 6.1 percent of students at American medical schools were African American. At the American University in Antigua, 15.5 percent of students are African American. Allowing clerkships will more than likely increase diversity amongst physicians practicing in the U.S.
Still, it's up to the Board of Regents to decide. "Until the Board of Regents reaches a decision, the future of medical education in New York hangs in the balance," Mr. Alexander wrote.