&gt;I don&#x27;t want to be treated by a doctor who only has 8 weeks of training, but I don&#x27;t think it&#x27;s a bad start to a more, immersive, apprenticeship-based program that allows candidates to earn decent money while learning the full profession.<p>I think we need multiple grades of doctor. Even something as simple as being able to stitch up a wound is useful and could lead to positive health outcomes for those who couldn&#x27;t otherwise afford a trip to the doctor. Better to get some healthcare than have all doctors be the best possible, but inaccessible to the masses.<p>I&#x27;d liken it to gas stations that also have small garages that can change your oil and top off your fluids. You&#x27;d probably never want to have them replace your transmission, but oil changes alone are in high enough demand that I&#x27;m sure they make up a good portion of all visits to mechanics.<p>I&#x27;m guessing that a similar situation exists with doctors;  physicals, vaccines, and a handful of common diseases (like colds) probably make up a sizable percentage of visits. There&#x27;s a market for someone who can just handle these cases and pass them off to the higher grade doctor when the need arises.<p>To an extent we have this in the form of various grades of nurses and the dazzling array of specialists that now exist, but it&#x27;s not quite there yet.