[Structured teaching of surgery the LMU model in Munich]

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Curriculum Development

Context:

• The Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich employs a dynamic medical curriculum (MeCuM).
• Surgical education is integrated within this curriculum, emphasizing interactive and student-centered learning.
• The faculty aims to cater to diverse learning styles and continuously improve teaching methodologies.

Purpose:

• To detail the comprehensive surgical teaching methods at LMU Munich.
• To highlight the integration of interactive teaching, problem-based learning, and practical skill development.
• To describe the assessment strategies, including Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and revision courses.

Summary:

• The MeCuM curriculum utilizes interactive teaching, problem-based learning (PBL) tutorials, online case studies, bedside teaching, and practical ward experience for surgical education.
• Surgical skills are taught through demonstrations, model practice, and clinical application, with assessments like OSCEs.
• A dedicated revision course, LMU-StaR, prepares students for the final examination ('Staatsexamen') during their practical year ('praktisches Jahr').

Impact:

• Provides a model for innovative surgical curriculum design and implementation.
• Enhances student engagement and practical skill acquisition in surgery.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of medical education through student-centered feedback mechanisms.