Bridging Anatomy, Histology, and Pathology: A Novel Curriculum Component Incorporating Self-directed Learning for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology Education
• Anatomical Sciences

Background:

• Medical students often encounter pathologies during anatomical dissections.
• Integrating pathology into anatomy education can enhance learning.
• Novel educational strategies are needed to link basic sciences with clinical pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel educational activity for medical students.
• To integrate anatomy, histology, and pathology through self-directed learning and teamwork.
• To assess student perceptions of the activity's usefulness and identify areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

• A new educational activity was developed, linking anatomy, histology, and pathology.
• The activity incorporated self-directed learning, teamwork, and pathologist-led feedback.
• Student feedback was collected using a Likert scale post-activity.

Main Results:

• Over 97% of students rated the activity as useful (Likert scale 1-5).
• Key strengths included self-directed learning, content design, and interactions (peer, faculty).
• Areas for improvement identified were assignment clarity, pathology range, and virtual format.

Conclusions:

• The novel integrated educational activity was highly rated by medical students.
• The approach effectively combined anatomy, histology, and pathology learning.
• The activity demonstrated potential for continued use in medical curricula, with noted areas for refinement.