Letters: Do doctors need policy classes?

Re “The gap in medical education,” Opinion, Jan. 3

I would like to commend Rahul Rekhi’s advocacy for incorporating health policy in medical education.

In addition to focusing on healthcare systems and health economics, there is a critical need to focus on the impact of health policy on the underlying causes of disease. For example, medical care alone cannot address the obesity epidemic underlying the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Policies such as how we plan our communities, how much physical activity is provided in schools and how we promote nutritious food consumption have a great impact on the health of our communities.

All health professionals need to be educated on their role in shaping the health policies of our communities and our nation.

Barry Ross

Yorba Linda

Rekhi’s piece is one of the more naive articles I have read on the state of medical education.

I am a journeyman doctor who has seen patients for 33 years. Since graduating from medical school, I have seen textbooks double and triple in size and the number of specialties and sub-specialties similarly expand. What hasn’t expanded is the time allotted to acquire the basic education.

Rekhi is concerned that young doctors do not know the details of the Affordable Care Act. From reading The Times, I think the politicians are similarly clueless, and they voted for it. Furthermore, the administration has made several rule changes with regard to the law.

With precious little educational time, I would rather have the doctor treating my acute injury in the emergency room be competent in basic medicine and surgery rather than health policy.

Cary Feibleman, MD

Long Beach

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