[The training of specialist physicians in the School of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México].

Specialization courses in the medical area purport the preparation of specialists in various branches of medicine, orienting the students in their search for useful knowledge to resolve daily problems in the specialties and forming them for daily practice. These courses take place in different hospitals of the Health Sector within Mexico. Agreements with the National University (UNAM) have been reached with this purpose. Formation and training activities of specialties is a function of the Health Institutions in accord with existent resources and needs. The UNAM forms the specialists in the field where they will be later required. The physicians who are submitted to this training are prepared to practice clinical, institutional, medicine, as well as to teach and do research. The following four elements of the process are emphasized: the students, the teachers, the characteristics of the seat hospitals and the curricula. The programs lead the teaching activities with a tendency to form the expected resources with an establishment of the students and teacher's roles, as well as the teaching methology to be used. The success of these programs is limited because the particular conditions and organization of the hospitals, the characteristics of the teachers and the background of the students.