PEDIATRICS Vol. 1 No. 4 April 1948, pp. 522-527
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A FURTHER STATEMENT ON FEDERAL AID FOR PEDIATRIC EDUCATION

Committee for the Improvement of Child Health

The Executive Board and the Committee for the Improvement of Child Health have proposed this plan as a coordinated, nation-wide effort directed at the heart of the problem, the assurance of a steady and nationally distributed supply of qualified physicians, well trained in a field of great need. They have agreed that the Federal government is the only agency which can be expected to finance and administer a program nation-wide in scope. The plan provides adequate safeguards for the maintenance of complete academic freedom by the medical schools. A National Advisory Council of nine physicians would be in a strategic position to oversee the administration of the law. Acceptance of funds by schools, hospitals and individuals would be entirely voluntary.

There are no startling new avenues opened by this program. The Federal Government contributes 80% of the budget of one medical school, makes grants directly to medical schools for teaching purposes under the provisions of successfully operating programs, and contributes to a number of others through grants and fellowships for research. Among these are 13 pediatric departments which receive direct government grants of some sort. In addition, 27 schools are largely tax supported by funds from states and municipalities.

The principle of an individual receiving a specialized education, in return for which he gives certain years of service is as old as the United States Military and Naval Academies. It is in operation in medicine now in five states and through several foundation grants.

There are advantages to starting such a program in one field only. By doing so it becomes possible to study the problem through the actual operation of a plan which is restricted in cost and scope. If it proves unsatisfactory it can be abandoned without too great dislocation. If it is successful, there can be formulated a more comprehensive plan based on experience which has been gained.