The format and production of the portable patient problem pack, a patient simulation method designed for problem-based learning, are described. Clinical and didactic applications and development of materials specifically for optometric education are discussed and additional information for designing optometry-related materials is appended.…

The University of Wisconsin Medical School began a class mentor program in 1985 utilizing five senior physician faculty members who attended courses as mentors through four years with the assigned class. Mentors shared practical experience about the subjects being taught. Program response was highly favorable. (GLR)

A survey of 222 obstetrics patients assisted by medical clerkship students from the University of Vermont and 78 who refused student participation found privacy the primary motivation for refusal and a desire to contribute to students' education a primary reason for accepting student participation. Patients frequently erroneously anticipated the…

A survey of 53 pharmacy schools investigated immunization requirements and policies, both on admission and before students begin clerkships. Results are reported, highlighting schools' hepatitis B immunization policies. Results indicate that most schools lack an immunization requirement for this disease. (Author/MSE)

Guidelines for evaluating clinician-educators are based on four forms of scholarship (application, teaching, integration, and discovery) and offer principles for making promotion decisions. These principles include encouragement of diversity, weighting of scholarship types, discipline- and institution-determined criteria, and evaluation of…

The University of Alberta's (Canada) four-year experience with development of a medical school course in behavioral science is chronicled. The course began as a traditional lecture course and evolved through several formats into a clinical course. Attention given to the quality of the educational experience is highlighted. (MSE)

Drawing from survey data (n=138 medical schools in the United States and Canada), a study analyzed medical schools' systems for evaluating student progress in clinical experiences. The 4-stage model used by most schools, common and unique characteristics, and 17 symptoms of system errors, signaling a need for system review, are outlined.…

A proposed problem-based course in clinical diabetes therapy at a pharmacy school is outlined. The interdisciplinary course requires students to develop or reformulate declarative and procedural knowledge in such a way that students' cognitive strategies are enhanced. Several sample clinical cases are appended. (MSE)

Analysis of the records of all University of Missouri (St. Louis) optometry students entering 1980-88 found that, overall, undergraduate grades and the personal interview, were the most significant components of a student's entering profile in predicting performance in the first professional year, first and second professional year, four-year…

A Boston University (Rhode Island) dental school program allows dental students to intern in dental practices while gaining paid professional work experience. The program has stimulated the dental community to participate in the training process by becoming teachers and mentors to future professionals. Practitioners and students have received it…

The Harvard University Medical School (Massachusetts) and a community health maintenance organization (HMO) have formed the first medical school department to be based in a freestanding HMO, replicating the conventional teaching hospital clinical teaching model in a managed care situation. The model is seen as potentially transforming medical…

A survey of 665 fourth-year medical students in 6 schools investigated whether students had encountered ethically problematic situations, their attitudes about them, and their perceptions of their personal ethical development. Results suggest that ethical dilemmas are commonly encountered and often detrimental, warranting attention of physicians,…

Among 745 physicians graduated from the University of Calgary (Canada) women were more likely to take parental leave, but gender differences in breaks taken for other reasons were less. Women worked fewer hours in direct patient care. Female parents under 35 spent fewer hours on patient care than all male parents. (Author/MSE)

The ambulatory care segment of the Southern Illinois University internal medicine clerkship provides extensive clinical exposure in a variety of settings and includes formal educational activities in seminars and workshops. Despite problems, educational quality has improved. Planned expansion includes a longitudinal experience for students.…

A study systematically reviewed published literature on graduate medical-education curricula in clinical epidemiology, critical appraisal, and evidence-based medicine (EBM). The 18 reports found in the search provide useful guidelines for medical educators but many suffer from incomplete descriptions and inadequate curriculum evaluations.…