University of Virginia School of Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes 10.07.99

Pediatric Pathology Conference Room,4:00 p.m.

Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Bob Bloodgood, Anita Clayton, Al Connors, Gene Corbett, Joanna Goldberg, Donald Innes (Chair), Steven Meixel, Jerry Short, Bill Wilson, Robb Williams, Debra Reed (Secretary)

1. A suggestion was made to make the "request for Feedback/Comments" more visible on the curriculum web site. Faculty and students will be sent WEB updates as the curriculum proposals become more concrete.
   
2. Al Connors presented a management plan for evaluation of the curriculum. A copy of this revised plan follows.

I. Stakeholders

A. LCME

B. Dean

C. Curriculum Committee

D. Course directors

E. Faculty

F. Students

G. Alumni

 II.Goals and objectives 

1. Curriculum Committee recommends (input from faculty, students and external sources)
2. Faculty reviews and gives advice
3. Dean approves

III.Coordination

A.Objectives 

1. For the overall curriculum
   (Curriculum Committee)
   
2. For the individual courses
   (Principles of Medicine Committee, Clinical Medicine Committee and the course directors)
   
3. For each lecture
   (Course directors and the individual faculty)

B.Integration 

1. Among courses within a semester (horizontal integration)
   (POMC and CMC, reporting to the Curriculum committee)
   
2. across semesters and years (vertical integration)
   (POMC and CMC, with active involvement by the curriculum committee)

C.Coherence

The coherence of the curriculum will be the responsibility of the Curriculum Committee in concert with the Principles of Medicine Committee and Clinical Medicine Committee

IV. Evaluation of the process of teaching

A.Curriculum

1. External review
2. Exit interview with graduating students
3. Yearly feedback from students and faculty at each level of the curriculum
4. Every other year Faculty and Student Retreat to review the curriculum and teaching at UVA SOM
5. Quarterly newsletter to the faculty and students reporting summaries of the evaluation process and recognizing excellence in teaching
6. Yearly report to the Dean on the state of the curriculum

B.Preclinical years

1. Intermittent external review
2. Interview with rising third year students
3. Summaries of the yearly student and faculty evaluation of each course
4. End of semester reviews by the POM Committee for integration and coherence
5. Yearly reports to the Curriculum Committee

C.Clinical years

1. Intermittent external review
2. Exit interview with graduating students
3. Summaries of student and faculty evaluation of each clerkship
4. End of semester reviews by the CM committee for integration and coherence
5. End of year reports to the Curriculum Committee

D.Courses and Clerkships

1. Formal surveys of student satisfaction and perceptions
2. Evaluation of vertical and horizontal integration
3. Monthly student feedback sessions with student representatives, faculty and course directors

E.Faculty

1. Formal surveys of student satisfaction and perceptions of faculty teaching
2. End of course review of performance with course director

A.Courses

1. Compare performance on tests to the stated goals of the courses and lectures (Do students grasp of the concepts taught)

B.Clerkships

1. Evaluate performance on clerkships "shelf exams" to determine the students' grasp of the concepts taught
2. Evaluate performance on Part II of the National Board tests in each specialty
3. Compare performance in individual areas to peer medical schools (currently not feasible)

C.Preclinical

1. Overall performance on National Boards after the second year
2. Compare performance to peer schools (currently not feasible)
3. Evaluate compliance with objectives for the preclinical years
4. Interview 3rd and 4th year students to evaluate preparation for clinical years
5. Interview clerkship faculty to assess preparation for clinical years.

 D.Clinical years

1. Overall performance on Part II of the national boards
2. Compare performance to peer schools
3. Evaluate compliance with objectives for the clinical years
4. Interview graduates after internship to evaluate preparation for residency
5. Interview selected residency directors to assess preparation for residency

 E.Overall curriculum

1. overall performance on Part I and II of the national boards
2. Success in matching for residencies
3. Evaluation of students by residency directors
4. Academic success of alumnae (i.e., % in primary care, % in academic medicine)

3.Discussion of the above proposal led to suggestions for expanding the Dean's annual report balancing research and education; and having a periodic teaching retreat for faculty and students to review undergraduate medical teaching.

4.The CC agreed that course and faculty evaluations by students should be standardized in the date/time administered and in the selection of the questions posed.

5.A draft proposal for short term steps to a curriculum of excellence was distributed.

Donald J Innes, M.D. Tel. (434) 924-5198
Associate Dean for Curriculum FAX (434) 924-8060
Department of Pathology e-mail dji@virginia.edu
Box 168 UVA - Medical Center
University of Virginia UVA Old Med School Bldg.
Charlottesville, VA 22908 Room CTR 3694