ABSTRACT
The successful global eradication of small pox in 1977 which began 10 years earlier as a World Health Organization initiative, serves as an exceptional example of the potential of the scientific community. In the 21st century, infectious diseases no longer lead the pack as the most common causes of premature death around the globe. The evidenced-based data points to lifestyle choices as the root cause of many chronic diseases. Contemporary medical school curricula and residency training programs readily focus on pathogenesis, which is studying the mechanism by which disease is created. The current day medical education model may have been appropriate for the 20th century and the management of primarily acute illnesses such as infections, but as the healthcare landscape has dramatically shifted people must modify our approach to educating medical professionals in this new millennium. Modifying lifestyle behaviors can lead to an immeasurable improvement in health outcomes.
