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. Original Article Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Smoking-Related Risks of Lung Cancer by C. A. Haiman et al., NEJM, January 26 2006, Vol 354 (4) 80-90% of lung cancer cases are attributable to cigarette smoking. However, the incidence of lung cancer varies greatly across race and ethnic groups. The Multiethnic Cohort Study finds that among cigarette smokers (who smoke less than 30 cigarettes per day), African Americans and Native Hawaiians are more susceptible to lung cancer than Japanese Americans, Latinos and white men and women. Perspective Home Testing for HIV by A. A. Wright and I. T. Katz, NEJM, February 2 2006, Vol 354(5) Do-it-yourself HIV home test kits may be hitting over-the counter shelves sooner than we think. After two decades, the FDA has changed its position on HIV home test kits, citing home tests as excellent screening tools that may be a step forward in stopping the spread of the AIDS epidemic. Audio Interview Volunteering Overseas by A. J. Wolfberg, NEJM, February 2 2006, Vol 354(5) Every year, thousands of physicians, including Senator Bill Frist, travel to developing countries to lend their skills and expertise. In the brief time away, these volunteer physicians focus on direct patient care, medical education, public health promotion, or improvement of the local health care infrastructure. Sounding Board Reform of Drug Regulation by W. A. Ray and C. M. Stein, NEJM, January 12 2006, Vol 354(2) Recent withdrawals of high-profile drugs highlight the limitations of drug regulation by the FDA and safety testing by the pharmaceutical industry. Conflicting interests of manufacturers and the FDA afflict the current system. To avoid "drug disasters," the authors propose increasing the availability of post-marketing data, curtailing the influence of manufacturers on drug release, and raising physician awareness of all available drug data.		The following interviews and articles are exclusive to the Next Generation. Women in Medicine Starting a Family 1st in Series When should female physicians intent on starting families have children? How do these young doctors balance obligations to their medical professions and their families? » More "Women in Medicine" Articles Pathways Through Medicine M.D.–M.B.A.s 3rd in Series Many medical schools are now offering joint M.D.–M.B.A. programs that train physicians to address problems at the intersection of medicine, business, and policy. In coming years, how will these physicians apply their skills to the big problems in health care? » More "Pathways Through Medicine" Articles The Second NextGen Reader Survey To help us improve our publication and suggest topics for us to cover, please take this short reader survey! New topics: Year of Undergraduate Education, Certainty of Applying to Medical School, "Big Picture" Topics Advice to the Next Generation What are some things to look for when choosing a medical school? Is it possible to practice family medicine without doing obstetrics? Are 24-hour rotations still the norm for residents and interns? Other than "helping people," what are some other aspects of a doctor's job? How serious a problem is doctor burnout? » Other Questions and Answers The next issue arrives May 1.

Selected Papers from the NEJM

NextGen Special Features

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

Original Article

Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Smoking-Related Risks of Lung Cancer

by C. A. Haiman et al., NEJM, January 26 2006, Vol 354 (4)

80-90% of lung cancer cases are attributable to cigarette smoking. However, the incidence of lung cancer varies greatly across race and ethnic groups. The Multiethnic Cohort Study finds that among cigarette smokers (who smoke less than 30 cigarettes per day), African Americans and Native Hawaiians are more susceptible to lung cancer than Japanese Americans, Latinos and white men and women.

Perspective

Home Testing for HIV

by A. A. Wright and I. T. Katz, NEJM, February 2 2006, Vol 354(5)

Do-it-yourself HIV home test kits may be hitting over-the counter shelves sooner than we think. After two decades, the FDA has changed its position on HIV home test kits, citing home tests as excellent screening tools that may be a step forward in stopping the spread of the AIDS epidemic.

Audio Interview

Volunteering Overseas

by A. J. Wolfberg, NEJM, February 2 2006, Vol 354(5)

Every year, thousands of physicians, including Senator Bill Frist, travel to developing countries to lend their skills and expertise. In the brief time away, these volunteer physicians focus on direct patient care, medical education, public health promotion, or improvement of the local health care infrastructure.

Sounding Board

Reform of Drug Regulation

by W. A. Ray and C. M. Stein, NEJM, January 12 2006, Vol 354(2)

Recent withdrawals of high-profile drugs highlight the limitations of drug regulation by the FDA and safety testing by the pharmaceutical industry. Conflicting interests of manufacturers and the FDA afflict the current system. To avoid "drug disasters," the authors propose increasing the availability of post-marketing data, curtailing the influence of manufacturers on drug release, and raising physician awareness of all available drug data.

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

Women in Medicine

Starting a Family

1st in Series

When should female physicians intent on starting families have children? How do these young doctors balance obligations to their medical professions and their families?

» More "Women in Medicine" Articles

Pathways Through Medicine

M.D.–M.B.A.s

3rd in Series

Many medical schools are now offering joint M.D.–M.B.A. programs that train physicians to address problems at the intersection of medicine, business, and policy. In coming years, how will these physicians apply their skills to the big problems in health care?

» More "Pathways Through Medicine" Articles

The Second NextGen Reader Survey

To help us improve our publication and suggest topics for us to cover, please take this short reader survey! New topics: Year of Undergraduate Education, Certainty of Applying to Medical School, "Big Picture" Topics

Advice to the Next Generation

» Other Questions and Answers

The next issue arrives May 1.

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) is an online publication that 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 two months by Harvard College undergraduates in collaboration with editors of the New England Journal of Medicine.