The problems being addressed here today have solutions that will require close cooperation among members of the otolaryngology specialty, as well as others, particularly general surgery. I have enjoyed the comments of the previous two speakers, Nancy E. Mason, MD, and Larry Koplin, MD, and appreciate their input, from the aspect of the medical student, as well as that of the first-year resident.
BASIC SURGICAL TRAINING PROGRAM
I'd like to discuss the way we have experimented with basic surgical training at the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles. As general surgeons, we believe that general surgery is not limited to abdominal surgery and breast surgery but encompasses all of the specialties, including otolaryngology.About six years ago I had the unique opportunity to chair a committee, appointed by William P. Longmire, Jr, MD, who was then chairman of the UCLA Department of Surgery, to look into some of the newer