University of Virginia School of Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes
09.26.02

Pediatric Pathology Conference Room, 4:00 pm

Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Robert Bloodgood, Victoria Camerini, Anita Clayton, Lisa Coray, Gene Corbett, Donald Innes (Chair), Vern Juel, Howard Kutchai, Jerry Short, Bill Wilson, Nikhil Rao, Debra Reed (secretary) Guest: Carl Creutz

1. Pharmacology 2002-03 Yearly Course Update. (Carl Creutz) Dr. Creutz presented the yearly update for Pharmacology.
   
   Efforts have been made to better coordinate the presentation of antibiotics between Pharmacology and PoM-2.
   
   A two-hour lecture on herbal and nontraditional medications has been added.
   
   Two pain management clinical correlations are to be added to PoM-2 with Pharmacology input.
   
   A section on phasing of clinical trials of new drugs for FDA approval will be added this Fall, in response to students who noted such questions on USMLE.
   
   The student evaluations remained high with particularly favorable comments regarding the use of sample questions and explanations on the website. Effort will be made this year to expand the pool of questions/answers on the web.
   
   An optional weekly small group discussion on Tuesday has been well-received by some students but underutilized by most. The Committee suggested the possibility of a time/day change to accommodate more students.
   
   It was suggested that an FYI list of trade name drugs be included in the Pharmacology notes or in PoM-2 cases as well as the generic equivalent.
   
   
2. Cell and Tissue Structure/Physiology Yearly Course Review - Fall 2001. (Bob Bloodgood) Bob Bloodgood outlined the grade distribution and student evaluation data. Evaluations are consistent with previous years with a 3.42 overall mean. he most frequently sited concerns of the students were 1) muscle pathology lectures (is being addressed); 2) more staffing needed in labs and change lab paradigm of students teaching each other after working on part of the lab; 3) making lecture handouts more closely match lectures;
   
   Changes implemented during Fall, 2001 included:

   1) lectures realigned for better coverage of subject matter;

   2) all lectures presented in Powerpoint and posted on the web site;

   3) updated textbook selected;

   4) laboratory equipment improved;

   5) laboratory staffing increased; partitions decreased noise problems;

   6) CTS web site enhanced - image of the month feature, more digitized images.

   Changes implemented during Fall, 2002 included:
   

   1) further realignment of lectures;

   2) increased laboratory staffing;

   3) changed the format of the labs;

   4) second phase of implementation of new laboratory equipment;

   5) student participating in 4th year teaching elective in CTS 
   
   

   It was reported that first year students had expressed concerns in a recent meeting. Students would like more help from the faculty during the laboratory, possibly a review of what theyre looking for in the beginning of the lab. Lisa Corey noted that, students want to know what they need to know and how to learn it the fastest way possible. The Committee discussed what extent microscopic expertise was necessary to medical students in todays health care environment. The committee will reconsider these thoughts at the completion of the course when the students and faculty can see it with perspective.
   
   Analysis of both Pharmacology and Cell & Tissue Structure will be continued at the October 17 meeting.
    

3. The next meeting is October 10, 2002. Dean Garson will join us to give us a sense of his vision for the undergraduate curriculum and for Q&As.

-Don Innes

-dmr