[Continuing education and residency program of occupational medicine in U. S. A].

To investigate postgraduate education of occupational medicine in the U. S. A., the author was sent to take some courses in occupational medicine continuing education supported by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOSH) in February and March of 1988. The course participants were mainly industrial hygienists. The contents of the courses were approximately the same as those of the Three-Month Course in Fundamental Occupational Health held in UOEH for medical doctors. The physicians in occupational medicine in the U. S. A. take mainly mini-residency courses from the NIOSH programs. The Curriculum of the Intensive Residency Program at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is presented in this report as a reference. According to the information I acquired, well-trained industrial hygienists are maintaining a high standard of control over the workplace environment. I received the impression that the industrial hygienists are playing an important part in occupational health in the U. S. A. Physicians specializing in occupational medicine are interested more in the clinical diagnosis of occupational diseases than in preventive measures such as environmental control of the workplace.