Academic Health Centers: Leading Change in the 21st Century

Excerpt

The Committee on the Roles of Academic Health Centers in the 21st Century convened in November 2001 with the charge of examining the current role and status of academic health centers (AHCs) in American society; anticipating intermediate and long-term opportunities and challenges for AHCs; and recommending to the AHCs themselves, to policy makers, to the health professions, and to the public, scenarios that might be undertaken to maximize the public good associated with these institutions. Technological, demographic, social, and economic trends will have a significant impact on the roles performed by AHCs. The committee believes that changes will be required in each of those roles if AHCs are to continue to meet the public's needs in the coming decades.