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Process of discovery: a fourth-year translational science course
Benedict F DiGiovanni1, Denham S Ward, Steven M O'Donnell
1Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA. Benedict_DiGiovanni@urmc.rochester.edu
Background:
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education notes the importance of educating medical students on clinical and translational research principles.
Purpose:
To describe a fourth-year course, "Process of discovery," which addresses teaching these principles, and to discuss students' perceptions of the course.
Methods:
Core components and pedagogical methods of this course are presented. Course assessment was performed with specific pre- and post-course assessments.
Results:
During academic years 2004 to 2009, 562 students were enrolled, with assessment response rate of 94% pre-course and 85% post-course. The students' self-assessment of their current understanding of clinical and translation research significantly increased, as well as their understanding of how clinical advances will take place over the next decade.
Conclusions:
A fourth-year course teaching clinical and translational research is successful, is seen as a positive experience and can meet the requirements for including clinical and translational research in the medical school curriculum.
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