In many US medical schools, they are making the switch to an integrated curriculum. This is opposed to the traditional curriculum where you have separate classes for anatomy, histology, biochem, path, pharm, physio, etc. In the integrated curriculum, you learn about each system one at a time (or some variation on that). But, you learn everything at once...including the anatomy, physio, and path. The general consensus is that this is a much better way to learn (which is why so many schools are switching to it). Now in my second year of medical school, I also feel like this would be a much better way to do it. Instead of learning everything all spread out, with little integration and having to put most of it together on your own, you get it all integrated at once.
Unfortunately, the caribbean schools probably won't have a truly integrated curriculum for a long time (if ever). But, even if it's been by accident, we've come close a couple times already this semester. For example, our first block we did endocrine path and physio at the same time. This block, we're doing respiratory physio, respiratory med micro, and respiratory path (after just completing from neuro path, which seems to have been just thrown in there for no particular reason). It's been really nice to actually see everything come together, and to see exactly why it's important that we learn the crazy amount of different bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can infect your body. From what I've heard, this happened by accident. But, if so, it's been a really nice accident and I hope they keep it up!
2 comments:
There are pros and cons to each system. I know doctors who went to integrated schools in N. America and complain that there were real gaps in their knowledge because there wasn't enough focus on individual subjects.
As someone who integrates well, I like having it all laid out for me. Others, who have difficulty with global thinking might do better in a more integrated curriculum. I must admit, when it all starts to come together, it is kind of cool.
I wish the profs would have a big white board up in the teacher's lounge and map out what they're all teaching. Purposely teaching similar subject matter at the same time would make sense.
I agree that it might not be ideal for everyone, but I do like it a lot when professors teach things together. The reason I got from them that they do not do it often is that it's hard to coordinate all of the visiting professors, since we have quite a few of them at AUC. However, I think that's the direction they should definitely be working in. Teaching things randomly, spread out all over the place, seems like the easiest way to teach things, but not at all the best way.
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