Medical Education Committee Minutes

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

To:

Members of Medical Education Committee

From:

David W. Nierenberg

Subject:

Minutes - Meeting held Tues., April 13, 2004 - 4:00 to 5:30 pm, 758W Borwell

Members Present:

Jamie Bessich, Todd Burdette, Duane Compton, Leslie Fall, Bill Garrity, John Hwa, Don Kollisch, Petra Lewis, Gene Nattie, and Dave Nierenberg, = 10

Members Absent:

Alexander Amby, Steve Andrews, James AuBuchon, Jim Bell, Stephanie Black, Patty Carney, Si France, Dale Gephart, Ryan Knapp, Will Nugent, Roshini Pinto-Powell, Kirsten Redborg, Virginia Reed, Eric Shirley and Carolyn Taylor-Olson = 15

Guests:

Stephen McAllister and Lori Arvison Alvord = 2

Scheduled Meetings:

Sept. 16

Oct. 21

Nov. 18

Jan. 20

Feb. 17

Mar. 16

Apr. 13

May 18

Aud. E

Aud. C

758 W Borwell

758 W Borwell

758 W Borwell

758 W Borwell

758 W Borwell

758 W Borwell

I. Performance of DMS Students Taking Step I of the USMLE Boards in 2003:

Dave Nierenberg reported on the results of the boards, referring to a letter previously sent to all MEC members, Course Directors for Years 1 and 2, Department Chairs, DMS Faculty, Deans' Office, Admissions Office, and DMS Students in Years 2 and 3. MEC members present discussed the ramifications of the results for approximately 20 minutes.

II. New OSCEs:

Dave proposed that a new series of OSCEs might possibly be created to help prepare Year 4 students that will be taking the Step II CS (Clinical Skills) portion of the USMLE Boards.

  • A. Fourth year students are not perfectly prepared for the currently planned Step II CS OSCEs:
    • 1. Current DMS OSCEs in Year 3 ICE consist of a history, a physical examination, communication with the patient, and a 10-minute soap-note. The student sees one patient/case per OSCE session.
    • 2. In the USMLE Boards, the student will see 12 sequential patients/cases in one session.
    • 3. Although DMS students have much OSCE experience by their fourth year, it does not optimally prepare them for the "rapid fire" method that will be used for the boards.
    • 4. Dave predicted that the board OSCEs will include multi-cultural communications and readings of Gram stains, X-rays, EKGs and other clinical tests. DMS OSCEs do not currently include those.
  • B. Cathy Pipas and Nan Cochran will be attending a communication workshop that could be helpful in generating ideas for additional OSCEs for the 4th year.
  • C. Dave stressed four possible goals in the development of the new OSCEs:
    • 1. Provide a series of "back-to-back-to-back" OSCEs to be held in one session;
    • 2. Provide Standardized Patients from other cultures;
    • 3. Include a communication problem that would require an interpreter; and
    • 4. Include the reading and interpretation of X-rays, stains, etc.
  • D. Discussion ensued to determine the best way and time to prepare 4th Year students for Step 2B boards.
  • E. Dave took a straw poll to determine if the idea should be further examined. The results were as follows:
    • 1. The idea of creating a 3-to-4 station OSCE is sound and should be further explored = 8
    • 2. The idea is moderately interesting = 1
    • 3. The idea is not worth pursuing further = 0

III. Agenda for next MEC meeting on May 18, 2004, 758W Borwell, 4 pm:

  • a. Report by Joe O'Donnell regarding the VIG on Professionalism;
  • b. Report on Patty Carney's visit to Philadelphia's USMLE OSCE site;
  • c. On-going report on LCME Group II; and
  • d. Further discussion of 4th Year OSCEs.

Dartmouth Medical School
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education
Hinman 7005
306D Remsen
Hanover, NH 03755-3847

Telephone 603-650-7679
Facsimile 603-650-6841

David.Nierenberg@Dartmouth.edu

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