* Pre-med Education: A bachelor's degree was *required* from an accredited college or university. While there wasn't a specific pre-med major, a strong foundation in sciences – biology, chemistry, physics – was absolutely essential, and many prospective medical students took a significant number of science courses. Some colleges had pre-med programs that guided students through this coursework.
* Medical School: Four years of medical school at an accredited institution were required. This involved a combination of didactic lectures, laboratory work, and increasingly, clinical rotations in hospitals. The curriculum was heavily focused on basic sciences in the early years, with more clinical experience integrated in later years. The emphasis was still heavily on memorization and rote learning compared to modern problem-based learning approaches.
* Internship and Residency: While not always strictly *required* for licensure in all states in 1950, a one-year internship was becoming increasingly standard and expected for gaining practical experience and to be competitive for further training. Residencies, specializing in particular areas of medicine, were still developing as a formal system but were increasingly common, particularly in surgical specialties. The length of residencies varied greatly.
* Licensing Examination: After completing medical school and their internship (or sometimes even before starting it), aspiring physicians had to pass a state licensing examination to be able to practice medicine within that specific state. The exams were largely focused on factual recall.
Key Differences from Today:
* Less emphasis on research: While research was present, the modern emphasis on evidence-based medicine and research experience wasn't as deeply ingrained as it is today.
* Shorter residencies (in general): While some specialties had longer training periods, the average residency was shorter than today's longer and more specialized residencies.
* Less structured pre-med requirements: The pre-med curriculum was less formally defined.
* Greater variation between medical schools: There was less standardization of curricula and training across different institutions.
In summary, while a bachelor's degree and four years of medical school were mandatory, the path to becoming a doctor in 1950 was less formalized and standardized than today, with greater variation in the length and content of training, especially post-medical school.