Why Are There No Educators With PhD Degrees in Pediatric Departments?

Sir.—The survey results on PhD degrees in academic pediatric departments as reported by Leuschen et al¹ in addition to the provocative commentaries by Drs Morrow² and Fulginiti³ were fascinating and warrant some further observations and commentary. The authors pointed out the major issues chairmen face when they consider hiring a faculty member with a PhD degree for their departments; ie, criteria for promotion and tenure, salary considerations, and departmental expectations. The survey indicated those subspecialty areas with which faculty members with PhD degrees are primarily affiliated, and there was no mention of educator/researchers with EdD degrees working with chairmen, training program directors, or student clerkship coordinators.

The General Professional Education of the Physician (GPEP) report⁴ has provided the stimulus in this country for departments and medical schools to examine their approaches toward medical education and to initiate change. However, few physicians receive formal training in