University of Virginia School of
Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes 09.02.99
Pediatric-Pathology Conference Room 4:00pm
Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Robert
Bloodgood, Anita Clayton, Al Connors, Gene
Corbett, Donald Innes (Chair), Steven Meixel,
Jerry Short, Bill Wilson, Robb Williams (Mark
Mikkelsen), Debra Reed (Secretary)
1) The meeting opened with a discussion of the final version of the
Medical School Objective #2.
Competence in the human sciences:
a) in the acquisition of current scientific knowledge as it
applies to the clinical understanding of human health and disease, and
b) in the application of research methodology to the acquisition and
development of medical knowledge pertaining to human health and
disease.
After a lengthy discussion, the revision of Medical School Objective
#2 was referred to a subgroup of the committee comprised of Dr.
Bloodgood, Dr. Connors, Dr. Corbett, Dr. Short and other interested
members. This subgroup will refine this objective statement and report
back to the committee next week.
2) The content of a Curriculum Committee position paper (to also be
sent as a letter to Dr. Carey) regarding adequacy of educational
facilities was reviewed.
Adequate small group facilities are a critical necessity for the
successful functioning of a contemporary medical undergraduate
curriculum.
At present, the availability of rooms for small group teaching is
inadequate at the UVA School of Medicine. Rooms are widely scattered
and inconsistently available. Rooms generally lack proper lighting,
lighting control, climate control and computer access.
The committee agreed that properly equipped additional small group
facilities are a necessity for curriculum modernization. Other schools
at UVA, the Darden School being the best example, and other U.S.
medical schools have recognized this need and acted to provide adequate
instructional space.
Utmost care must be taken in design and construction of new
educational facilities to accommodate small to large groups of
students, control lighting and in the selection of AV and digital
equipment. Rooms should be available to accommodate groups of 6-10
students; 10-30 students and some small enough for patient
encounters.
It was recommended that the letter should also address immediate
needs for meeting space. It was noted that at this time, a 3 story
bustle to the library is proposed (going toward Lee St.) and is
primarily for education. A new building MR6, with potential for
research and medical education, is also in the planning stages.
3) Dr. Innes' proposed letter to the faculty was generally endorsed
by the committee. The committee approved inclusion of their e-mail
addresses in the letter.
4) The Goals statement was also generally endorsed by the committee.
The question was raised as to how this compares to the Hastings
objectives and the AAMC goals. Changes in phrasing of specific
words/paragraphs, however, were suggested.
5) Plans for a Curriculum WEB site were approved. The most
appropriate place to link this page would be under Education on the
Medical Education home page, however, links to other sites might also
be constructed. The site would include initially a roster of committee
members, vision and goals statements, and later, as they are readied,
the objectives, meeting minutes, position papers, proposals etc. The
site would become a place for communication with the general faculty
allowing for an exchange of ideas.
6) Plans for restructuring the governance or committee organization
for the four years of medical school were briefly discussed.
Donald J Innes, M.D.
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