A Century of Change in Medical Learning

1926 – The journal that began in 1926 marked a turning point for medical schools.
Back then, the Flexner Report was reshaping how doctors were trained. The first articles examined:

• Technology – how new tools could fit into established curricula
• Hidden biases – recognizing and addressing systemic inequities
• Foundational knowledge – determining what students should know before they entered school

These debates helped craft the rules for medical education in the United States—rules that still shape schools today.

2026 – The world faces a different kind of shake‑up: the rise of generative artificial intelligence.
AI could transform teaching and patient care in ways that rival Flexner’s reforms. Modern educators must now ask:

• Learning – how will AI alter medical education?
• Fairness – what biases might AI introduce or mitigate?
• Quality of care – how will AI influence clinical outcomes?

The Continuing Tradition

The early issues emphasized:

• Values
• Bias scrutiny
• Consensus building

These principles will only grow in importance as new disruptions test medical education again. A tradition of thoughtful debate is essential for progress.