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Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Curriculum for the New MCAT
Author(s) -
Dobrydneva Yuliya,
Schwartz Lisa
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.887.1
Subject(s) - coursework , curriculum , medical education , medical school , set (abstract data type) , chemistry , psychology , mathematics education , biochemistry , medicine , pedagogy , computer science , programming language
Students who aspire to enter medical school have to take an MCAT (Medical college admission test). Recently MCAT has been redesigned with a new set of curriculum objectives. New one‐year program “post‐baccalaureate premedical certificate” at the GWU School of Medicine and Health Sciences is created to answer the challenges of the new MCAT. Furthermore, the program prepares students for the medical school coursework, like biochemistry, histology, physiology and pharmacology. We designed an integrated curriculum as a succession of three 12‐week courses (Organic I and Organic II (with laboratory) and Biochemistry I) to teach the material required for the pre‐medical students. The objectives of these courses are closely aligned with MCAT objectives. Memorization and recall is not emphasized. Instead, students must be able to think critically and apply chemistry concepts in other areas. Thus, the emphasis is placed on examination of the structure, stability and function of (bio) molecules, methods of separation and structure determination and spectroscopy. Less emphasis is placed on organic synthesis and molecular transformations. An additional semesters’ worth of college‐level biochemistry is included in MCAT for the first time. Post‐bac biochemistry course incorporates flipped classroom technique and case studies in medical biochemistry. Early introduction of biochemical concepts is integrated into the organic chemistry course. Students develop set of skills that enables them to be prepared for the challenges of the new MCAT and will lay a foundation for the medical school coursework.