The medical field has always been an attractive option to many young people. However, more than ever, America's medical schools have brought in a new generation of students who, in these past few years, have spurned the physical profits of working in the medical field.

For instance, there is a male doctor, twenty-eight years of age, who declined an offer in excess of $30,000 per year from drug and insurance companies, medical schools and private foundations. The focus of these new doctors is no longer on practicing medicine as big business A commitment to the advancement of the level of medical care being provided in the United States is what drives this doctor, as well as the others of this new breed.

He states that he has no intention of practicing in the customary manners of medicine. His organization studies medical, dental, educational and legal needs of individual communities throughout the country. This physician states that health care is just one issue facing people these days, and the other main issues also need to be addressed. Unfortunately, students who are eager to create change within the system aren't finding enough opportunities.

The nation's medical circumstances are in a bad place. Any meaningful change takes time but already there are indications that the future of medicine is no longer "business as usual". In this instance the encouragers are the medical students themselves, which has resulted in virtually all of the nation's medical schools adding classes studying community medicine to their curricula. Today, the majority of students studying medicine know about the issues facing the nation, and wish to work to change them.

One of our best medical school's deans has stated that, currently, students possess a stronger sense of social consciousness, a genuine sympathy for our world, a true interest in injustices against humanity and a strong sense of belonging and purpose. He said he has not seen this from his own or other generations, so much so, that they often fail to find the humor in given situations. The dean notes that the time and effort put in to attaining their objective by the medical students of today is much greater than students previously. He is looking for a unique way of life, distinct ethics and new dreams to chase. Success in the chosen field has less to do with social status.

Previous generations of doctors were concerned primarily with social and monetary success. These doctors were part of an elitist social group that loved to have fun, enjoyed material wealth, and arranged their lives to be safe, secure, comfortable, and successful. Previous generations have a very difficult time understanding the ideas and goals of the current generation.

One desire of many modern students is to see that medical care is delivered based on need rather than finances, and that no one should be denied medical care for any reason. One associate professor who is also leading efforts to reform medical schools' direction and curricula decries the country's willingness to spend billions on medical care, when medical services and the people being treated aren't likely to be that much better off in the future. These numbers will no doubt continue to grow if the present system remains in place.

Fortunately, an organization has been formed to encourage medical students to concentrate more on public and environmental health, and preventive medicine. This organization is at work throughout the country, sponsoring medical projects designed to assist individual communities. Attempting to modify the courses offered they are trying to include community health projects in the medical schools.

One student, who worked as the organization's program director, reported that many of the budding doctors to be who have worked on the group's projects expressed interest in returning to that community to practice medicine. Aside from establishing community projects and medical clinics in destitute communities, a large number of medical schools and hospitals have expressed their interest in coaching minority group physicians.

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