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Adding anatomy to the medical clerkships: experience with surgery and clinical skills
Author(s) -
Jones Kenneth H,
DePhilip Robert M
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.236.6
Subject(s) - medicine , cadaver , curriculum , gross anatomy , medical education , clinical practice , surface anatomy , anatomy , medical physics , psychology , physical therapy , pedagogy
Reduced time for anatomy in the first year medical curriculum challenges anatomists to provide students with opportunities to learn the anatomy that is essential for clinical practice. One way to meet this challenge is to integrate specific topics of anatomy into the third year when they are clinically relevant. Previously we determined that third year students prefer a combination of demonstration by an instructor and “hands‐on” work with a cadaver to learn anatomy. More recently, we consulted with clinical colleagues to develop “need to know” clinical anatomy sessions that are now required for third year students in both the Surgery clerkships and in the Clinical Skills Immersion Experience (CSIE). Prosections are used to review specific anatomical relationships that are relevant to general surgery and to selected invasive procedures. Groups of 35 students rotate among the prosections and are assisted by anatomy staff or are self‐guided by exercises on computers. In the 2‐day CSIE, students first review relevant anatomy and then practice selected invasive procedures, e.g., chest tubes, paracentesis, thoracentesis, and kidney biopsy on unembalmed cadavers. Students report that they are “very satisfied” with these anatomy sessions. Invasive procedure training using unembalmed cadavers is greatly appreciated as it reduces anxiety and provides an authentic experience that cannot be matched using models.