Andrew_Doan said:
One example is the anatomy of the eye. A fairly easy concept right? How many medical students come to the ophthalmology rotation saying that the 'sclera' is injected? Essentially, most of the students I've worked with say this. The sclera is the white part of the eye, but there are two membrane structures sitting on top: Tenon's capsule (rarely does a medical student know this) and the conjunctivae. I did the same thing as a medical student. I studied eye anatomy, but did not understand the relationship of Tenon's and the conjunctivae to the sclera and other structures until I studied how to do surgery on the eye. Each time I go back to study anatomy, I learn a little more and understand more about the important relationships.
I fail to see the relationship between knowing physics and organic chemistry to knowing the layers of the eye.
You learn the layers of the eye by studying the layers of the eye, not by studying physics, then chemistry, then orgo, then the layers of the eye. Sorry, it doesn't make sense to me. It's like saying you have to study history, poetry and music before you study anatomy, because then you understand more. Those subjects have no relation to each other.
Also, physics for rads is very basic. You don't need to take two semesters of optics, magnetism, inertia, velocity and acceleration, etc. to understand how an X-ray machine works. Heck, you don't even need to know how imaging equipment works to be able to interpret the results.
Pre-requisites are like the MCAT. Hurdles to make sure that only people that want it badly enough make it. It's like engineering. I studied hard concepts for four years to get my engineering degree. In almost 10 years as an engineer, I never once (not once!) used those concepts. Only the most basic concepts were used, not the concepts I learned in my last two years of engineering school.
I'm not disagreeing with studying physics, bio, chem and orgo before med school. I think anyone who considers himself a professional or a "doctor" (in the academic sense, not the medical sense) should have a basic understanding of basic sciences and some humanities as well. I just don't agree with the fact that those basic sciences are essential to learning medicine or becoming a good physician. That base is just to make a graduate more well-rounded (part of the "aura" that physicians are smart cookies that know a lot).