Academic medicine: A training gap

     Following receipt of a doctorate of medicine, most physicians pursue postdoctoral training. This training is usually 4 to 8 years in duration. In most cases, it involves educational tasks with supervision for approximately 80 hours per week, didactic lectures averaging 3 to 6 hours per week (more in some programs), various intensive special courses, nationally standardized “in-service examinations” given annually, and a nationally standardized board examination.