Beginning a new medical school curriculum amidst a global pandemic

Abstract

The University of Maryland School of Medicine embarked on our first major curriculum revision since 1994 with a plan to implement this Renaissance Curriculum in August 2020. However, in the Spring of 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic disrupted clinical care and medical education on a large scale requiring expeditious modifications to our Renaissance Curriculum as well as our traditional Legacy Curriculum in order to meet our goal of educating the next‐generation of physicians. The rippling effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic led to major changes in the delivery of the pre‐clerkship curriculum, the way we assessed and evaluated students, entry into the clinical environment, length of clinical rotations, and orientation for our new medical students. We relied on “new” technology, digital medical resources, and the creativity of our educators to ensure that our learners continue to acquire the skills necessary to become skilled clinicians in these unprecedented times.

A scoping review on adaptations of clinical education for medical students during COVID-19

“…Some studies reported online delivery of clinical education for preclinical students [ 23 , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] ]. Knie et al [ 27 ] implemented communication skills by interviewing simulated patients over Zoom, resulting in higher satisfaction levels than role-playing among themselves.…”

“…Knie et al [ 27 ] implemented communication skills by interviewing simulated patients over Zoom, resulting in higher satisfaction levels than role-playing among themselves. Elengickal et al [ 26 ] reported online critical community-based projects through an interdisciplinary approach and Shah et al [ 28 ] described maximizing active and collaborative learning over online platforms.…”

“…Whilst onsite modified clinical clerkships continued in parts of the world [ [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] ], in others it was combined with online teaching [ 28 , 62 , 63 ]. Thomas von Lengerke et al [ 64 ] described communication skills teaching for preclinical students using simulated patients in a classroom setting under social distancing and infection control guidelines.…”

“…Care Comm Heal US 2021 Clinical Com FM online™ real Students performed history taking, delivery of patient education and counselling after receiving basic telehealth training NA short report NA Rüllmann et al [ 50 ] Virtual auscultation course for medical students via video chat in times of COVID-19 GMS J Med Educ DE 2020 Clinical Univ Var. Online clinical scen Virtual auscultation course via videochat 2a Short report Cross-sectional; self-assessed performance Rupley et al [ 11 ] Mobilization of health professions students during the COVID-19 pandemic Semin Perinatol US 2020 Clinical Univ O&G online™ Real Public health, telehealth visit & post-partum outreach teams ran by students NA Short report NA Schleicher et al [ 36 ] Training of physical examination techniques in video conferences GMS J Med Educ DE 2021 Clinical Univ MS Online Stand /sim Clinical skill teaching, lecture, interactive Q&A NA Short report NA Shah et al [ ...…”