Medical curriculum reform at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies: responding to change - Poster abstract

ABSTRACT

The Faculty of Medical Sciences on the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies is currently undertaking a thorough review of the undergraduate medical degree programme in order to improve its aims and objectives, its overall structure, flow and relevance. This paper reports on the rationale, method and progress of the review. The specially appointed Working Group took several factors into consideration in commencing the review. These included the need to identify an essential core of knowledge and skills in view of the burgeoning of medical knowledge, the need to give new emphasis to attitudinal attributes and the need to strengthen the teaching of ethics and the behavioural sciences. The Group intends to create a more student-centred approach to teaching and learning in the new curriculum. In laying the groundwork for the review, a compilation of the present courses conducted in the MBBS programme was first prepared. A foundation document containing agreed aims of the MBBS programme and ideal qualities of the new graduate was then drafted and approved by the Faculty Board. This document was used as a guide in creating a draft outline of a modular, systems-based curriculum. A number of ideas were drawn from curricula recently introduced in medical schools in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Consultation with Faculty representatives from Barbados and Trinidad campuses and with student representatives was done at a two day retreat. Course co-ordinators are now being appointed to oversee the design of the various systems-based modules and further consultation is planned before final implementation of the curriculum.(AU)