Retraining inactive physicians. A seven-year experience.

In 1969 the Medical College of Pennsylvania began a program to retrain clinically inactive physicians. Originally designed for women physicians who had discontinued their clinical training or practice in response to family responsibilities, the program has expanded its goals to encompass physicians in nonclinical careers who wish to reenter clinical practice. An eight week program, which provides didactic and clinical experience, has been designed as a first step or catalyst for these physicians. Since the program began, 102 physicians have matriculated to the program, and of these physicians, 78 have returned to clinical activity. Criteria have been developed in selecting those physicians most likely to return to clinical activity. There is a potential continued need for programs whose unique attributes and liabilities of retraining are a form of continuing medical education.