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Curricular Transformation in Health Systems Science: The Need for Global Change
Jed D Gonzalo1, Terry Wolpaw, Dan Wolpaw
1J.D. Gonzalo is associate professor of medicine and public health sciences and associate dean for health systems education, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1253-2963. T. Wolpaw is professor of medicine and vice dean for educational affairs, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania. D. Wolpaw is professor of medicine and humanities, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
This commentary argues for a comprehensive approach to health systems science education, differentiating between focused, integrated, and transformational curricular changes. Successful medical education reform must address evolving patient care needs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Systems Science
- Curricular Reform
Background:
- Advocates for a circumscribed, piloted, choice-focused approach to curricular redesign in undergraduate medical education.
- Proposes a counterperspective on introducing innovations, particularly in health systems science.
- Categorizes innovations by scope: student-interest driven, strategy-based with barriers, and transformational.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a counterperspective on curricular redesign in undergraduate medical education.
- To differentiate types of curricular innovations based on scope and educational strategy.
- To argue for a comprehensive approach to health systems science education.
Main Methods:
- Invited commentary analyzing existing proposals.
- Categorization of curricular innovations.
- Drawing from experiences at Penn State College of Medicine and other institutions.
Main Results:
- Health systems science is a transformational innovation requiring a comprehensive approach.
- Distinguishes between focused programmatic interventions, difficult-to-expand strategies, and broad systemic changes.
- Highlights challenges and complexities in large-scale curricular transformation.
Conclusions:
- Medical education must adopt a comprehensive strategy for health systems science.
- Curricular reform should consider the scope of change and associated educational strategies.
- Successful transformation must benefit learners and address evolving patient care needs in complex systems.
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