I am a professor of organic chemistry and teach mostly pre-medical students. I have come to realize why medical schools require organic chemistry. It is partly to weed out the student who cannot manage a massive amount of material but, IMHO, it is because organic chemistry requires the student to begin the processes of critical thinking and synthesis of ideas. A very good doctor will be an excellent diagnostician. This is no different than the mechanisms (how the electrons move in a chemical reaction) that many organic textbooks have moved towards as a basis for teaching the subject. Many of the students who will make it to medical/professional school were very good students in high school because they memorized all of the material and regurgitated it on exams. A good organic professor helps the student learn to understand the reactions through mechanisms. The student who rebels from this model makes more work for her/himself (1000's of note cards) and does not see the value in the subject. If pre-medical students could get over the cycle of memorizing and forgetting and move to a higher level of cognitive thinking, I think they would rise above their classmates in medical school. I have several students who have made this cognitive move and I'm waiting to see how they'll do next year in their chosen professional school.
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I am a professor of organic chemistry and teach mostly pre-medical students. I have come to realize why medical schools require organic chemistry. It is partly to weed out the student who cannot manage a massive amount of material but, IMHO, it is because organic chemistry requires the student to begin the processes of critical thinking and synthesis of ideas. A very good doctor will be an excellent diagnostician. This is no different than the mechanisms (how the electrons move in a chemical reaction) that many organic textbooks have moved towards as a basis for teaching the subject. Many of the students who will make it to medical/professional school were very good students in high school because they memorized all of the material and regurgitated it on exams. A good organic professor helps the student learn to understand the reactions through mechanisms. The student who rebels from this model makes more work for her/himself (1000's of note cards) and does not see the value in the subject. If pre-medical students could get over the cycle of memorizing and forgetting and move to a higher level of cognitive thinking, I think they would rise above their classmates in medical school. I have several students who have made this cognitive move and I'm waiting to see how they'll do next year in their chosen professional school.