Integration of clinical anatomical sciences in medical education: Design, development and implementation strategies

For the last 20 years, undergraduate medical education has seen a major curricular reform movement toward integration of basic and clinical sciences. The rationale for integrated medical school curricula focuses on the application of knowledge in a clinical context and the early ability to practice key skills such as critical thinking and clinical problem-solving. The method and extent of discipline integration can vary widely from single sessions to entire programs. A challenge for integrated curricula is the design of appropriate assessments. The goal of this review is to provide a framework for clinical anatomy educators with definitions of integration, examples of existing integration models, strategies, and instructional methods that promote integration of basic and clinical sciences.