1) Although maternity leave can facilitate the professional success of female students.The extent to which maternity leave is implemented remains unknown.A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all Japanese medical schools and postgraduate schools in medicine (N=81) was performed.Responses were received from 55 medical schools and postgraduate medical schools (response rate=67.9%).The results showed that no school had formally established a maternity leave policy for students.
2) We found that medical educators had reorganized clinical clerkship programs to accommodate the pregnancies of students but expressed confusion about how to manage such situations.
3) We also found that many female postgraduate students drop out because of pregnancy or child-care responsibilities. Medical schools and postgraduate schools should recognize the importance of maternity leave and should not close their doors to pregnant students who are contending with both motherhood and academic achievement.

　The Committee on Studies of Career Education for Female Physicians set five learning objectives for all physicians to nurture abilities for continuous public participation by women physicians. Next, we discussed the learning objectives corresponding to the learning period and made a road map. Further more, we proposed our new target-based education program and methods for its assessment.

1) To our knowledge, medical student abuse has not previously been studied in Japan.
2) In our survey, 68.5% of respondents experienced medical student abuse.
3) Several students reported that they had been frequently neglected or ignored by teaching physicians during clinical clerkships and that such attitudes discouraged them and decreased their motivation.
4) To improve the learning environment, medical educators must take action to resolve this serious issue.