BRINGING DOWN THE SILOS: COMBINING FOUR SECOND-YEAR COURSES INTO ONE

Ellen Wagner*, Patricia Nuznoff*, Marilda Ward, Sue Hricko, Lisa Morris, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rootstown, Ohio 44272, U.S.A.

Purpose

To better integrate the 2^nd year medical curriculum, our school combined four second-year courses.  The courses, Principles of Medical Science, Radiology, Pharmacology, and Pathology merged into one course called Principles of Medicine. 

Methods

The process began two years prior to implementation when faculty and coordinators met to divide the content into nine organ system modules.  Each module convened a content team consisting of representatives from each of the original courses. Content team discussions focused on: module topics, sequence, learner objectives, identifying redundancy and faculty recruitment. Many exam questions became vignette style, integrating concepts from the original courses.  Students receive exam feedback at the end of each module; an official, cumulative course grade is given at the end of the year.  Course feedback is collected through focus groups and on-line forms.

Results

Five modules are complete with the remaining modules being implemented by May 2007.   Following the last module, cumulative exam scores will be compared to pre-integration scores.  Course evaluation feedback has indicated some material redundancy and the need for faculty development to encourage lectures to further integrate their topics. Time management within lectures is also needed.

Conclusion/Future Directions

Content team meetings are reconvening to begin revisions for the next academic year.  Positive and negative outcomes are being reviewed as are suggestions for further integrating topics.