Medical practice encompasses a diverse spectrum of specialties. Factors that impact selection of clinical disciplines by young physicians may have recently evolved associated with changes in medical school demographics. We assessed whether physicians gravitate to certain practice specialties due to preexisting personality traits. The Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory Revised Test was administered prospectively to 130 first-year students the week before they began medical school. Scores for five traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness) were compared with the selection among nine medical residencies at the conclusion of medical school. Personality scores for medical students selecting psychiatry residencies showed greater degrees of neuroticism (P < 0.01) and openness (P < 0.03). Students electing family practice also deviated from other specialties, showing a lower degree of neuroticism (P < 0.03). Unexpectedly, personality traits in prospective surgical residents did not differ from those of students choosing nonsurgical residencies. Personality profiles present before medical school appear to predict the selection of some residencies and clinical specialties but not others.

Utilization of the arts serves four major functions: (a) enhancement of student well-being, (b) improvement of clinical skills, (c) promotion of humanism, and (d) employment by students as a teaching tool.

Approximately 80% of the members of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training responded to a survey on the role of religion in psychiatric education. Survey results suggest that religious ideation by resident candidates is a relatively unimportant variable in the programs' selection; didactic instruction on any aspect of religion is infrequent; clinical supervision on religious dynamics is variable but more likely to occur than didactic instruction; and academic progression is rarely impeded by behaviors emanating from residents' religious values. Several implications of these findings are discussed.

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PPVEME is an attempt to construct a medical school learning environment around professionalism. Evaluation over time will tell how successfully that has been accomplished.