Core Viewpoint - The "4+4" clinical medicine training model in China allows students from non-medical backgrounds to pursue a medical doctorate, showing potential for diverse academic backgrounds in medical education [11][18]. Group 1: Training Model Overview - The traditional Chinese model is "5+3" (5 years undergraduate and 3 years graduate), while the North American model is "4+4" (4 years undergraduate followed by 4 years of medical education) [11]. - Institutions like Peking Union Medical College and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have initiated the "4+4" model, with the first cohort graduating in 2023 [11][9]. Group 2: Academic Performance - Research indicates no significant difference in academic scores between "4+4" students and traditional 8-year students, although clinical skills and research output are slightly lower for "4+4" students [3][4]. - In a comparison of unified assessment scores, "4+4" students showed no significant differences in three subjects compared to 8-year students [7]. Group 3: Clinical Skills and Employment - The pass rate for the 2024 medical licensing exam was 95.2% for "4+4" students, compared to 98.5% for 8-year students [8]. - Employment rates for "4+4" graduates were 100% and 95.7% for the 2023 and 2024 cohorts, respectively, while 8-year students had rates of 97.4% and 97.1% [9]. Group 4: Research and Innovation - "4+4" students have lower research output and innovation capabilities compared to their 8-year counterparts, attributed to the shorter duration of their training [10][19]. - A study found that "4+4" graduates had no differences in clinical competencies but showed lower research innovation abilities due to limited time for research training [10]. Group 5: Admission Criteria and Diversity - The "4+4" program accepts students from various academic backgrounds, including science, engineering, and humanities, provided they graduate from top-ranked universities [11][14]. - The majority of "4+4" students have backgrounds in biological sciences, with 87.8% coming from science disciplines [11]. Group 6: Future Directions - The "4+4" model aims to integrate clinical and research training earlier in the education process, contrasting with the North American approach where clinical skills are emphasized post-graduation [20]. - The development of a "4+4+X" model is underway, which includes a PhD phase, aiming to enhance interdisciplinary training [18].