1. Central Role of Physiology in the Professional Curriculum
Robert G. Carroll, PhD
Associate Dean for Medical Student Education
Brody School of Medicine

2. Physiology Instruction
How many hours are needed for Physiology instruction?

3. Kirkpatrick’s levels of evaluation

4. Spiral Curriculum Model
M4 Electives
Differentiation
M3 Clerkships
Clinicals
Disease &
Therapeutics
M2 Year
M1 Spring
Function
M1 Fall
Structure

5. Medical School Timeline
High School
Undergrad
Life
Medical School
Residency
Physician
Step 2
CS and CK
Step 1
MCAT
Step 3 M1 M2 M3 M4
ERAS
Match
Medical School Timeline

6. Progression of Roles 1984 Assistant Professor 1990 Associate Professor
Lecture, Labs for MD, PT, OT, Grad students
1990 Associate Professor
1996 Professor
Course Director for Medical Physiology
Instructor for Physician Assistant Course

7. Interrelationships

8. Kirkpatrick’s levels of evaluation
Instructor generated exams
NBME Physiology subject exam
Physiology subscore of USMLE Licensure exams
Individual faculty evaluation, Course Evaluation, Peer Evaluation

10. New Roles 2009 – Chair curriculum renewal group
More than just Physiology
2010 – Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in the Basic Sciences
2012 – Interim Associate Dean for Medical Education
2014 Associate Dean for Medical Student Education

11. Medical School Timeline
High School
Undergrad
Life
Medical School
Residency
Physician
Step 2
CS and CK
Step 1
MCAT
Step 3 M1 M2 M3 M4
ERAS
Match
Medical School Timeline

12. Kirkpatrick’s levels of evaluation
Primary care physicians that serve rural and underserved communities
PGY 1 Residency Director Survey
NBME Physiology subject exam
Physiology subscore of USMLE Licensure exam
AAMC Graduation Questionnaire
Course evaluations

13. Development as a Physician
Medical knowledge: WHAT YOU KNOW
Patient care: WHAT YOU DO
Interpersonal & communication skills: HOW YOU INTERACT WITH OTHERS
Professionalism :HOW YOU ACT
Practice-based learning and improvement : HOW YOU GET BETTER
Systems-Based Practice : HOW YOU WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM
ACGME competency domains

14. To strengthen Physiology
1. Move beyond Knowledge to other competencies

16. Medical School Timeline
High School
Undergrad
Life
Medical School
Residency
Physician
Step 2
CS and CK
Step 1
MCAT
Step 3 M1 M2 M3 M4
ERAS
Match
Medical School Timeline

17. AAMC Graduation Questionnaire
Administered shortly before graduation
Extensive
14,842 responses in 2015

18. Overview of Medical Education
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of my medical education Basic science coursework had sufficient illustrations of clinical relevance Required clinical experiences integrated basic science content
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Mean
0.8
2.6
5.7
49.2
41.7
4.3
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Mean
1.1
7.4
13.2
55.1
23.2
3.9
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Mean
0.7
5.5
14.7
55.9
23.5
4.0

19. To strengthen Physiology
2. Emphasize illustrations of Clinical Relevance
3. Work with clinical faculty to integrate physiology mechanisms in the clinical courses

20. Physiology Instruction
How many hours are needed for Physiology instruction?
How is my course/block preparing students for the next step in their training?

21. But what about Physiology?
How well did your study of Physiology prepare you for the clinical clerkships and electives?
Year
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Mean
2015
1.8
7.4
37.3
53.6
3.4

22. But what about Physiology?
How well did your study of Physiology prepare you for the clinical clerkships and electives?
Year
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Mean
2015
1.8
7.4
37.3
53.6
3.4
2014
7.9
37.0
53.4
2013
2.0
9.3
38.2
50.5
2012
2.6
9.8
37.4
50.1

23. But what about PHYSIOLOGY?
How well did the study of the following sciences basic to medicine prepare you for the clinical clerkships and electives? 14 sciences: behavioral science, biochemistry, biostatistics and epidemiology, genetics, gross anatomy, immunology, clinical skills, histology, microbiology, neuroscience, pathology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, physiology

24. 2015 Top 8 “prepared you for clinical”
Pathophysiology 3.5
Clinical Skills 3.5
Physiology 3.4
Gross Anatomy 3.4
Neuroscience 3.3
Pathology 3.3
Microbiology
Behavioral Science 3.2

25. 2015 Top 8 “prepared you for clinical”
Pathophysiology 3.5
Clinical Skills 3.5
Physiology 3.4
Gross Anatomy 3.4
Neuroscience 3.3
Pathology 3.3
Microbiology
Behavioral Science 3.2

26. To strengthen Physiology
4. Align content to clinical expectations 5. Align content to residency expectations

27. Evolving Medical Education
BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

28. Redefining Medical Education

29. Maintaining the central role of Physiology in the medical curriculum
Move beyond knowledge to the other competencies
Emphasize applications of clinical relevance
Work with clinical faculty to emphasize physiology mechanisms in the clinical courses
Align content to clinical expectations
Align content to residency expectations