SOM Curriculum Committee Year in Review: Chair’s Perspective

The Curriculum Committee has had an incredibly active year fulfilling its charge to design, manage and evaluate the School of Medicine curriculum. Through the activities of eight subcommittees, the Curriculum Committee continues to enhance the educational program following the introduction of the new systems-based curriculum in the fall of 2023. Ongoing efforts to ensure vertical and horizontal mapping of core topics as well as introduction of systems-based practice and self-directed learning content continue to strengthen the pre-clinical curriculum. Nutrition is also a key focus as the Curriculum Committee addresses the new Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation element, 7.3 Health Promotion and Health Maintenance, which includes content on the role of nutrition and other health maintenance activities in preventing and managing disease. Pre-clinical students not only have increased exposure to nutritionally-related topics in the classroom, but through the Bower Center for Culinary Medicine, they also participate in hands-on learning activities to enhance patient care through improved nutrition.

This has also been an exciting year as the Class of 2027, the first students to complete the new systems-based curriculum, entered the clinical setting. The anticipation of the impact the new curriculum would have on knowledge application, clinical reasoning, and interdisciplinary practice was met with eager students well prepared to engage in clinical responsibilities.

The School of Medicine educational program objectives (EPOs) were revised to reflect updated standards of professionalism. Additionally, efforts to integrate and map the school’s five societal topics (diabetes mellitus, obesity, substance abuse, sexually-transmitted infections, interpersonal violence) have further enriched the curriculum. To ensure the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum, course, phase, and program evaluation plans have been developed and are in the process of implementation. As this academic year nears completion, the Curriculum Committee is enthusiastic about 2026-2027 and grateful for the contributions of those who serve in medical education.