Case-Based Integration to Promote a Public Health Curriculum for Medical Students

Project Description Narrative:

Application of the principles of basic science to patient care is a primary goal of medical education. The integration of ideas learned in basic science classes with clinical problems early in the medical curriculum provides a significant step toward this goal. This project will bring together the MCW Society of Teaching Scholars and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) to develop a unique format to facilitate integration of basic science and clinical medicine.

Integrated grand rounds (IGR) utilize a well-tested medical learning activity to present case-based clinical problems developed by groups of clinicians and basic scientists. The case development working groups provide an opportunity for MSTP students to work directly with basic science and clinical faculty as they develop IGR programs. The IGR sessions also provide an opportunity to emphasize certain broad themed areas such as public health, evidence-based medicine, and genetics, that are woven throughout the curriculum but may become obscured with the details of discipline-based courses. The presence of patients at IGR sessions who are experiencing the clinical problem that is being discussed gives the students additional patient contact by listening to the patient relate their experiences with the problem and through the opportunity to ask relevant questions. Archiving these IGR sessions will provide continuing medical education and opportunities for MCW and community health care workers.