University of Virginia School of Medicine

Curriculum Committee

Minutes – 08/25/11

Pediatric Conference Room, 4:00 p.m.

Present (underlined) were: Gretchen Arnold, Robert Bloodgood, Megan Bray, Chris Burns, Donna Chen, Eugene Corbett, Thomas Gampper, Wendy Golden, Donald Innes (Chair), John Jackson, Keith Littlewood, Veronica Michaelsen, Mohan Nadkarni, Bart Nathan, Linda Waggoner-Fountain, Bill Wilson,  Mary Kate Worden, Mary Grace Baker,  Long Vinh, Thomas Jenkins, Sam Zhao,  Debra Reed (secretary)

1. Announcements:
   
   Fall IAMSE Web – Audio Series  Announced
   The Second Flexnerian Report: Implications, Applications and Expectations
   Every Thursday in September, a different topic will be presented at noon by a nationally known speaker and brought to you live via web-audio seminar. Presentations last 40 minutes and are followed by a discussion. Feel free to bring a lunch.  All sessions are at NOON in the Clinical Skills Center Conf. Room 114 MEB.
   Sept 1: 1910 and 2010: What's with these Carnegie reports on medical education? David Irby
   Sept 8: Integration and Inquiry, Innovation and Improvement. Bridget O'Brien
   Sept 15: Individualization. Catherine Lucey
   Sept 22: Instituting and Using a Holistic Admissions Process. Marlene Ballejos
   Sept 29: Professional Identity Formation.  Kelley Skeff
   
   Student Demographic Data for the School of Medicine 2011-12 prepared by Stuent Affairs was distributed to the Committee.
   
   
2. Policy on Academic Deficiencies.  The Committee reviewed the latest draft of the Policy on Academic Deficiencies – with special attention to the standards regarding Professionalism.  With minor changes the Curriculum Committee approved the policy.  The policy will now go to the Dean’s Office for approval and review by the University Council Office.
   
   
3. Activity Types and Attendance and Recording Policies.   The Committee discussed current and proposed attendance and recording policies for each SOM activity type.  The policy will be changed to allow recording as listed in the table below.
   
   Relation of Activity Types to Recording         1.2
   
   

   Activity Type (as listed in Oasis)	Recorded?
   Clinical Case Presentation (Engagement)	Yes
   Clinical Case Presentation (Lecture)	Yes
   Laboratory	No
   Large Group Discussion	Yes
   Lecture	Yes
   Panel Discussion	Yes
   Patient Presentation	No
   Review	Yes
   Small Group Discussion	No
   TBL	No

                                                                                     
   The student SMEC leadership is aware that if the number of students in attendance at the Clinical Case Presentation (Engagement) sessions deteriorates to the point that it affects the learning environment of these sessions particularly the workload of the participating students then the status would be reviewed.
   
   
4. Ultrasonography in the SOM Curriculum. 
   
   In the Fall of 2010, the CPD organized a OB/GYN ultrasonography exercise for the MCM students.  Since that exercise occurred, questions have been raised about how this exercise impacts the safety of the mothers who volunteer for the exercise and their fetuses.  A group made up of CPD faculty, OB/GYN faculty, University Council and Dean’s Office representatives have met, the last time with the faculty member who raised the objections.  In response, a plan has been developed which includes improved learning objectives for the students and more clearly defined guidelines for patient participation to better insure patient safety.  Issues regarding educational value of the ultrasonography program were raised as well as whether timing of the experience to coincide with third year clerkships or fourth year electives might be more useful.  The Curriculum Committee reviewed the plan and will ask to meet with the CPD and OB/GYN faculty who run these exercises before a final decision is made. 

Donald Innes

dmr