Minutes 10.25.07
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Curriculum Committee
Minutes
10.25.07
Pediatric Conference Room, 4:00 p.m.
Present (underlined) were: Reid Adams, Gretchen Arnold, Eve Bargmann, Dan Becker, Robert Bloodgood, Gene Corbett, Wendy Golden, Donald Innes (Chair), Howard Kutchai, Marcus Martin, Chris Peterson, Jerry Short, Bill Wilson, Brad Bradenham, Emily Clarke, Sixtine Valdelievre, Guests: Debra Perina, Darci Lieb, Debra Reed (secretary)
-
Announcements.
There will be an open faculty meeting in the Jordan Hall Conference Center Auditorium on 11/8/07 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The agenda includes an overview of the status and anticipated timeline for the search committee for the new VP/Dean as well as discussion of the possible increase in class size. There will be no Curriculum Committee meeting on 11/8/07. Curriculum Committee members are encouraged to attend this faculty meeting.
The Carilion Clinic's leadership team roster has been announced:
http://www.carilion.com/contentstore/CarilionClinic-LeadershipTeam.pdf
- Basic Science for Careers. Debra Perina met with the Committee to outline plans for the Basis Science for Careers program which is scheduled for March, 2008.
Vision - To create a course in the undergraduate medical curriculum following 3rd year core clerkships to review, expand, and focus on basic sciences as applied to a particular discipline
Course Goals
Relate basic science to individual student's chosen discipline (future residency) focusing on application of basic science principles used in daily practice of the chosen discipline
Highlight basic science concepts from Principles of Medicine courses in the post-clerkship/pre-electives period
Motivate and mentor students in their chosen field(s)
Increase student interest in academic medicine
Stimulate critical thinking to enhance their understanding of disease and ability to integrate this into patient care.
Enhance clinical reasoning and decision-making abilities
Promote greater self-sufficiency of students in the clinical setting
Format
3 week required course for all students
Given March of 3rd year following core clerkships
Prior to elective rotations, residency applications, "audition rotations," USMLE-2
3 types of teaching venues:
General sessions
Topics with universal relevance
Entire student group
Specialties sessions
topics with career/specialty-oriented groups
~10-15 students per group
Venue for student presentations
Applied sessions
Clinical scenarios
~10-15 students per group
Venue for student presentations and case management
Faculty
General and Specialties sessions jointly taught by clinician and basic scientist
All sessions are case vignette format
Applied sessions taught by clinicians
Clinician leads case presentation
Basic scientist discusses relevant concepts in context of case
General Sessions
Major topics in clinical practice with universal relevance relating closely to basic science
An integrated and more sophisticated treatment of material from 1st and 2nd years
6 sessions, ~ 3 hours each (~18 hours/student)
Students required to attend all General sessions
Possible General Session topics
Fluid and Electrolyte balance and acid base disorders
Drug-Drug Interactions
Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing
Evaluating Clinical Research
Bench to Bedside- answering patient care issues in real time
Homeostasis - Maintaining human system wellness preventive medicine
Specialty Sessions
Topics specific to clinical discipline
Case vignettes format
Some cases from those identified by students
Relevant Basic Science illustrated
Current manuscript discussions
Discuss limits of knowledge and identify future research questions
Focused topics with career oriented relevance
#20 sessions, ~3 hours each
Students must select 10 sessions, but may attend more
~30 hours/student
Applied Sessions
Cases developed from specialties
Students manage case alone
Immediate feedback from faculty
Promote critical thinking and independent decision making
~5-10 students/group
Students attend 7 applied sessions (must sign up in advance) May attend more
Students given case problem in advance to research management
Students have access to resources to solve patient management questions
Student Responsibilities
Identify specific cases or questions developed from their experience during core clerkships to discuss in sessions
Attend all General sessions
Attend 10 Specialty sessions (must sign up in advance of course). May attend more
Attend 7 Applied sessions (must sign up in advance of course). May attend more
Total class time commitment ~ 20 hours per week
Benefits to Students
More in depth exposure to specialty areas
Relate basic sciences to future practice setting
Provides discussion of relevant current literature
Enhances overall understanding of specialty which could enhance residency selection and interview process
Benefits to SOM
Greater specialty involvement with interested students
Recruitment tool for specialties
Enhances understanding of basic science relationship to clinical patient care
Raise awareness of unanswered questions for future research interests of students
Stimulate interest in academic careers
Next steps.....
Obtain Departmental Chairs support
Identify all session leaders
Budget for space and resources
The fourth week of the course will be devoted to the DX/RX course. The total class commitment for the students of the Basic Science for Careers course is 20 hours per week.
The evaluations for the pilot program were distributed to the Committee and reviewed. Most comments were positive and suggestions for improvement will be taken into consideration when launching the program in March, 08. The Committee discussed the placement of the course in the curriculum and why the course placed in March at the end of the second year.
Debra Perina will meet with the third year students, explain the program and answer questions. This should be arranged for a period during the next Clinical Connection session. The Committee also asked Dr. Perina to assemble a planning committee to help in firming up the plans for this course. This planning committee should include at least three third year students. Sixtine Valdelievre was asked to contact Dr. Perina with the name of student who would be interested in serving on this committee.
- USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Performance. The results of the students who took the USMLE Step 2 CS exam for the first time between July 2006 and June 2007 were reviewed by the Committee. The UVA scores were above or within one standard deviation of the mean in all categories.
Donald Innes
dmr
