Nicholas Ziats, PhD
PATHOLOGY, CWRU
email Dr. Ziats
phone: 368-5176

Project Title: Bridging the Patient-Based and Core Academic Programs in the First Year: The Small Group/Clinicopathologic Conference

Abstract of the Project:
The overall goal is the further development of the small-group based learning approach in the first year School of Medicine Biological Basis of Disease committee (BBD). This past academic year, the small group based learning approach was introduced into the General Pathology curriculum, focusing on selected diseases discussed in the lectures and laboratories. These small group discussions were viewed favorably by the students and participating faculty. All recognized that these could be further developed by “bridging the gap”; specifically utilizing skills that students are beginning to acquire as first year students in the patient-based learning program and integrating with the basic science and pathology taught in BBD. This project will specifically focus on bridging the gap of the clinical learning of medicine with the pathologic basis of disease(s) using the small group approach. The project will consider ways of improving this aspect of teaching/learning in year one BBD, as well as in years two through four.

Description of the Project:
A. Outline of the Project: The overall goal of the project is the further development of the small group based learning approach that was introduced last year in the first year School of Medicine Biological Basis of Disease committee (BBDI). Last year, the approach that was introduced was a small group discussion of clinically relevant diseases of selected topics (alcoholic liver disease and atherosclerosis). In this format, there was a brief case scenario followed by a series of selected questions regarding the disease process. Also included in these small group discussions were presentation of typical normal and pathological gross and microscopic material presented from cases available on WebPath, a server based CD. A faculty member served as the discussion leader. This approach was viewed favorably by the students as indicated in the Section Evaluation Forms for BBD.

The specific outline of the project will be:
1. Further development of topics for small group discussions. There is a need to for the further development of topics for introduction into the curriculum. Although this cannot be extensive redevelopment of the core curriculum, there is a need to further develop and improve upon the existing case studies, such as clinicopathologic correlates and the basic science applications taught in the BBD committee. There is a need to introduce other topics into the small group format and may include topics such as ARDS and diabetic wound healing. The project will identify timely topics for expansion of opportunities for active learning within the core academic program.
2. Further development and use of resources for small group discussions. There is a need to correlate the patient-based learning approach at CWRU that is introduced early in the first year, with a clinicopathologic-based medicine and basic science pathology and pathophysiology. It is important to find diseases/processes that are well-suited for small group discussions and/or topics that are difficult to relate conceptually in lecture. There are a number of different options for use in the development of the program such as the procurement of Case Record materials presented in the weekly New England Journal of Medicine. An alternative source of material is the virtual microscopy slide series that will be used for the upcoming academic year. Other web-based sites will be an additional source for assessment during the project year. Thus, the major aspect of this goal is to review and select material, specifically clinicopathology- and pathology-based materials that can be adapted as powerful learning exercises in the small group sessions.

B. The Need of the Project: There is a need to further develop and coordinate the patient-based learning approach that students at CWRU are exposed to early in their medical careers with the basic science aspects of medicine, particularly pathology and the pathophysiologic aspects of disease. The linkage between patient-based medicine and the pathologic basis of disease early in the phase of learning should be useful as students progress through the academic and clinical portions of the program. It is hoped that the further development of this project will strengthen and interface with the Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) program.

C. Benefit of the Project: The overall benefit of the project is to further emphasize the strong patient-based learning approach of medicine that the CWRU School of Medicine has pioneered over the years. In addition, it is hoped to offer our students broader opportunities to serve as colleagues in their own education by participating in active learning experiences. There is a strong interest in focusing and correlating this approach to basic science aspects of disease. This project will benefit the student by providing an expansion of already provided material with a deeper and broader learning approach based on clinicopathologic correlates.