Vision and Persistence

In the 1960s, a new paradigm for training physicians emerged: one that combined clinical training and its focus on individual patients with a research training focused on studying the health of populations. The program that grew from this change, the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars program, has produced many of today's leaders in health care policy and practice. This commentary raises the possibility that another paradigm change is needed: one that takes advantage of new information technologies to help physicians place patients more squarely in control of their own health and health care.