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Integrated anatomy and physiology in a medical curriculum
Author(s) -
Silverthorn Dee U.
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.244.3
Subject(s) - curriculum , class (philosophy) , physiology , medical education , medicine , computer science , medical physics , anatomy , psychology , artificial intelligence , pedagogy
Anatomy and physiology often are taught together as part of a systems‐based integrated medical curriculum but at Dell Medical School, newly opened at the University of Texas at Austin, we are following a model more often seen in undergraduate curricula: a combined anatomy and physiology course. After an introductory course in biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics, Dell Med students take a 12‐week block titled “Structure and Function.” The block includes weekly 4‐hour laboratory sessions with four stations: two stations with prosected cadavers plus digital histology, one station with hands‐on physiology experiments, and an imaging station that combines radiological imaging, ultrasound, and a Sectra Visualization Table (tm). Students spend 3 hours a week working in small groups on clinical cases that have elements of both anatomy and physiology. These cases are presented in a custom‐designed teaching electronic health record. Another 9 hours a week are devoted to large group interactive sessions with minimal lecturing. Students are expected to learn the basics on their own before class so that interactive time is spent applying knowledge and practicing problem‐solving. Scheduled classes are restricted to 18–20 hours a week to allow students ample time to learn independently. This talk will occur near the end of our first year in the curriculum and will include assessment of what worked and what needs to be improved.