In this issue of AJDC, we publish an interesting survey by Leuschen et al1 and an editorial comment by Grant Morrow,2 who is currently chair of the department of pediatrics at Ohio State University, Columbus. Both deal with the vexing problem of the appointment of PhD faculty in clinical departments, in this instance, departments of pediatrics. I would like to add a "dean's viewpoint," as this issue is encountered repeatedly in colleges of medicine, both in concept and in practice.
Colleges of medicine are confronted today with issues that never arose before, conditioned by the rapidly changing medical and research milieu, and complicated by the basic requirement that teaching of medical students, graduate students, resident physicians, and fellows underlies all of the college's activities. The immediate issue is the blurring of disciplinary lines and titles in assigning faculty positions to departments and