Only a few weeks ago, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medi-
cine announced it will increase the enrollment in its predoctoral pro-
gram by around 20 per cent, beginning in the fall of 1961. A similar
increase in the program at the University of Maryland School of Medi-
cine may be expected. According to all the reports I have received,
there is a critical need for the immediate development of plans to increase
the supply of qualified physicians. As we all know, it takes many years
to train a physician, and even if prompt action is taken now, there will be
a lag of six or more years before the need can be filled. Meanwhile, the
population of the country may be expected to grow by leaps and bounds,
and with it, health problems, especially chronic illnesses, will increase.

Accompanying this serious shortage of graduates from medical schools
is the development of an enormously increased demand for psychia-
trists. As a result, I am told, our state mental hospitals have had a
rapidly dwindling available pool of physicians entering for training
or careers. The answer to the problem we face is not a simple one and
probably requires a multiple approach. Our medical schools are not
turning out enough physicians and need to be expanded in terms of class
enlargement, or additional medical schools need to be constructed.

The high cost of medical education must be honestly met, and, in
State supported medical schools in particular we must begin to think
about how some relief may be provided. Training programs in State
hospitals need to be supported to the fullest so as to be attractive to
physicians desiring to specialize in psychiatry. In the field of psychiatric
education, incidentally, it is a pleasure to me to report to you that
Maryland has made substantial progress in meeting the recommenda-
tions made by this organization in 1954.

The University of Maryland is establishing a school of social work,
and Maryland continues to provide work-study opportunities for graduate
training in social work. Through the University Hospital here in Balti-
more, the State is expanding its training efforts in psychiatric nursing
and developing broader programs of graduate study in the psychiatric
field.

Our State is making a real effort to enlarge its mental health research
facilities. Within the last few weeks, a director of research has been
appointed in the Department of Mental Hygiene to direct and coordinate
an expanding program of research activities in the State mental hos-
pitals.

Under the leadership of Dr. Isadore Tuerk, whom I appointed
recently as Commissioner of Mental Hygiene, the Department of Mental

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