Next Generation: An Introduction to Medicine and Clinical Research

Selected Papers from the NEJM		NextGen Special Features
The following are free links to NEJM articles through the Next Generation. Perspective Market-Based Failure — A Second Opinion on U.S. Health Care Costs by R Kuttner, February 7 2008, Vol 358 (6), 549-51 Solutions to American healthcare problems will be one of the most important issues in the upcoming Presidential election. Understanding the reasons for America’s especially high healthcare costs is consequently a high priority for those interested in the medical field. Dr. Kuttner asserts that the failure of the U.S. system lies in its obsession with profit maximization. He advocates universal health care to increase cost-effectiveness and standard of care. Original Article Childhood Body Mass Index and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Adulthood by JL Baker, LW Olsen, and TIA Sørensen, NEJM, December 6 2007, Vol 357 (23), 2329-37 The worldwide epidemic of childhood obesity is progressing at an alarming rate, but the severity of the long-term effects of excess childhood weight on coronary heart disease is unknown. In a study with a cohort of over 275,000 schoolchildren and over 5 million person-years of followup, the authors find a definitive link between obesity and coronary heart disease. Special Report Military–Civilian Collaboration in Trauma Care and the Senior Visiting Surgeon Program by EE Moore et al, NEJM, December 27 2007, Vol 357 (26), 2723-27 Integrating civilian and military medical capabilities has been shown to be vital throughout the nation's history. The Joint Trauma Training Center was established in Houston in 1999 to train military trauma teams at a civilian hospital. This article peers into the unique cases facing military medicine and describe a system of bringing military doctors up to date. Perspective The View from the Other Side — Patients, Doctors, and the Power of a Camera by G Berland, NEJM, December 20 2007, Vol 357 (25), 2533-36 Not everything about a patient's life can be gathered from a brief consultation in a clinic. Dr. Berland has devised a fascinating method of looking into the personal lives and troubles of her disabled patients - encouraging them to carry a video camera with them. Read about the unique insight that she gained through this novel, simple idea.		The following interviews and articles are exclusive to the Next Generation. Pathways in Medicine Anesthesiology by Roger Batt If you've ever undergone a medical procedure, chances are anesthesia saved you a lot of pain. Anesthesiologists serve a vital role in virtually every branch of medicine by allowing patients to endure an otherwise unbearable experience. In this Pathways article, Roger Batt discusses the many types of anesthesiology, the pros and cons of the field as a profession, and the process of becoming an anesthesiologist. » More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles Pathways in Medicine Medical Oncology by Frank Chen Oncology, or the study of tumors and cancer, can be divided into surgical, radiological, and medical oncology based on the types of treatment provided. Medical oncology entails treating a cancer patient with non-radiological drugs over a long course of time. Here, Frank Chen presents the medical oncology field through the lens of renowned oncologist George Canellos at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. » More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles Free Standing Perspective The Current State of TB Research by Graciela Carrasco Once a neglected disease, tuberculosis is gaining momentum as a prominent research topic. But what remains to be done to combat one of the most prevalent diseases in the world? Graciela Carrasco presents the questions and challenges of TB research through an interview with Megan Murray, a TB investigator at the Harvard School of Public Health. » More "Free Standing Perspective" Articles Pathways in Medicine MD/MPH by Jenna Lester A Master of Public Health Degree allows focused study on improving the health of a community. The MD/MPH combined degree allows understanding of treating populations with the detailed medical knowledge gained from medical school. In this Pathways article, Jenna Lester describes the merits of this dual degree, how to earn it, and how it can be used effectively after graduation. » More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles Advice to the Next Generation Anatomy Lab: What to expect in your first year (new!) Other than "helping people," what are some other aspects of a doctor's job? » Other Questions and Answers NEXT ISSUE: June 1 The Next Generation is now publishing at the beginning of every month! The next issue arrives June 1. Join our List To receive a monthly email notification and summary of the newest issue, click here

Selected Papers from the NEJM

NextGen Special Features

The following are free links to NEJM articles through the Next Generation.

Perspective

Market-Based Failure — A Second Opinion on U.S. Health Care Costs

by R Kuttner, February 7 2008, Vol 358 (6), 549-51

Solutions to American healthcare problems will be one of the most important issues in the upcoming Presidential election. Understanding the reasons for America’s especially high healthcare costs is consequently a high priority for those interested in the medical field. Dr. Kuttner asserts that the failure of the U.S. system lies in its obsession with profit maximization. He advocates universal health care to increase cost-effectiveness and standard of care.

Original Article

Childhood Body Mass Index and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Adulthood

by JL Baker, LW Olsen, and TIA Sørensen, NEJM, December 6 2007, Vol 357 (23), 2329-37

The worldwide epidemic of childhood obesity is progressing at an alarming rate, but the severity of the long-term effects of excess childhood weight on coronary heart disease is unknown. In a study with a cohort of over 275,000 schoolchildren and over 5 million person-years of followup, the authors find a definitive link between obesity and coronary heart disease.

Special Report

Military–Civilian Collaboration in Trauma Care and the Senior Visiting Surgeon Program

by EE Moore et al, NEJM, December 27 2007, Vol 357 (26), 2723-27

Integrating civilian and military medical capabilities has been shown to be vital throughout the nation's history. The Joint Trauma Training Center was established in Houston in 1999 to train military trauma teams at a civilian hospital. This article peers into the unique cases facing military medicine and describe a system of bringing military doctors up to date.

Perspective

The View from the Other Side — Patients, Doctors, and the Power of a Camera

by G Berland, NEJM, December 20 2007, Vol 357 (25), 2533-36

Not everything about a patient's life can be gathered from a brief consultation in a clinic. Dr. Berland has devised a fascinating method of looking into the
personal lives and troubles of her disabled patients - encouraging them to carry a video camera with them. Read about the unique insight that she gained through this novel, simple idea.

The following interviews and articles are exclusive to the Next Generation.

Pathways in Medicine

Anesthesiology

by Roger Batt

If you've ever undergone a medical procedure, chances are anesthesia saved you a lot of pain. Anesthesiologists serve a vital role in virtually every branch of medicine by allowing patients to endure an otherwise unbearable experience. In this Pathways article, Roger Batt discusses the many types of anesthesiology, the pros and cons of the field as a profession, and the process of becoming an anesthesiologist.

» More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles

Pathways in Medicine

Medical Oncology

by Frank Chen

Oncology, or the study of tumors and cancer, can be divided into surgical, radiological, and medical oncology based on the types of treatment provided. Medical oncology entails treating a cancer patient with non-radiological drugs over a long course of time. Here, Frank Chen presents the medical oncology field through the lens of renowned oncologist George Canellos at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

» More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles

Free Standing Perspective

The Current State of TB Research

by Graciela Carrasco

Once a neglected disease, tuberculosis is gaining momentum as a prominent research topic. But what remains to be done to combat one of the most prevalent diseases in the world? Graciela Carrasco presents the questions and challenges of TB research through an interview with Megan Murray, a TB investigator at the Harvard School of Public Health.

» More "Free Standing Perspective" Articles

Pathways in Medicine

MD/MPH

by Jenna Lester

A Master of Public Health Degree allows focused study on improving the health of a community. The MD/MPH combined degree allows understanding of treating populations with the detailed medical knowledge gained from medical school. In this Pathways article, Jenna Lester describes the merits of this dual degree, how to earn it, and how it can be used effectively after graduation.

» More "Pathways in Medicine" Articles

Advice to the Next Generation

» Other Questions and Answers

NEXT ISSUE: June 1

The Next Generation is now publishing at the beginning of every month! The next issue arrives June 1.

Join our List

To receive a monthly email notification and summary of the newest issue, click here

The Next Generation is an independent online publication produced in collaboration with Editors of the New England Journal of Medicine. All content referencing the New England Journal of Medicine is copyrighted property of the NEJM and the Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved on original content by the Next Generation.

The Next Generation (NextGen) seeks to broaden perspectives in medicine for everyone, from premedical and medical students to general readers, by connecting them to current physicians and clinical scientists. It is published every month by Harvard College undergraduates in collaboration with editors of the New England Journal of Medicine.