Caracterización del desarrollo profesional de los médicos docentes durante la misión en Venezuela

the cuban health care system is in charge of the formation of human resources in the sector and the specialist in integral general medicine plays a fundamental role. objective: to characterize the professional development of teaching physicians in the medical mission in venezuela 2008. methods: design: educational research; field: formation and upgrading of human resources; objects: physicians with educational specialty category. universe: 628 physicians with educational specialty category in venezuela. sample: 366 professors with their medical mission accomplished in cuba. techniques: a survey for professors (annex 1) and interview of key informants (annex 2) including provincial leading officials. results: in 2003, 73.8 % went to accomplish medical mission and most of them were integral general medicine specialists whereas 6 of them had a master′s degree. in the course of this mission, 166 (45,35 %) were linked to the national program of integral community medicine and 137 to graduate education. the rest was devoted to bachelor of health technology career and the new program of medical formation in cuba. on their return, 70 (19.12 %) graduated as masters, 262 (71.58 %) took diploma's courses in medical education and 64.34 % combined teaching, medical assistance and research tasks. over 98 % of these physicians stated that the highest achievement for their professional performance during the mission was to be granted the educational category as professors. conclusions: the mission brought about a significant change in the professional preparation of this staff as educators and leaders as well as the acquisition of ethical, moral and political values. it was an exceptional piece of experience to form teaching and managing cadres. it is recommended to undertake further studies to follow-up this group of professionals on the basis of selected indicators.