News in brief - Sept. 4, 2000

Harvard links with health Web site - Foreign-trained doctors fail test - AOA names new officers

Harvard links with health Web site

Harvard Medical School has signed a contract for more than 70 faculty members to provide medical content to InteliHealth, a leading health online Web site (http://www.intelihealth.com/).

"The Web has become an integral part of our health care system, so it is important for Harvard Medical School to take this step to enhance the quality of the health information available to consumers online," said Joseph Martin, MD, PhD, Harvard's dean.

Established in 1996, InteliHealth is a subsidiary of Aetna U.S. Healthcare.

A medical school spokesman said Harvard would be paid a fee to cover editorial costs and given an unspecified donation to support its academic mission. Harvard has full editorial independence in developing and reviewing medical content for the site, said Don Gibbons, Harvard spokesman. Content developed specifically by Harvard will be included throughout the site and will be clearly labeled.

Foreign-trained doctors fail test

Only three of 153 doctors passed Florida's special medical licensing examination in July for primarily Cuban- and Nicaraguan-trained physicians who immigrated to the United States for political reasons.

Florida is the only state in the nation that offers an alternative to the United States Medical Licensing Examination, a three-part test states require for medical licensure. But supporters of the doctors claim the revised test still discriminates against them.

After three attempts, 21 foreign-trained physicians have passed the test for an average 4% pass rate. To give the doctors a better chance at passing, the test has been translated into Spanish and revised to stress clinical skills over textbook knowledge of basic science.

Data show that 90% of U.S. medical school graduates and 60% of international medical school graduates pass the USMLE the first time they take it.

AOA names new officers

Donald J. Krpan, DO, was named president of the American Osteopathic Assn. at the group's annual meeting in July.

Dr. Krpan has been a practicing family physician for 20 years. He is the University Provost at Western University of Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, Calif.

He will devote his year as president of the AOA to the challenges and opportunities of osteopathic medical education.

Dr. Krpan is a graduate of the University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo.

James E. Zini, DO, was named president-elect of the association.

The Mountain View, Ark., family physician was the first osteopathic physician appointed to that state's medical board. Dr. Zini is also a founding member of the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Assn.