Why did university medical education sometimes give students more theory than experience with patients?

With the rise of universities in Europe, medical teachers were increasingly drawn away from hospital environments by the prestige and professional attractions of university professorships and lectureships. Consequently, the study of medicine shifted toward a focus on theories about disease rather than direct engagement with actual patients.1

This academic emphasis persisted until the 17th and 18th centuries, when the value of clinical experience—specifically training students to use their sight, hearing, and touch to study disease—was reasserted. Eventually, the integration of natural sciences into patient care and the development of modern teaching hospitals helped bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and practical application.1