October 1997
Recognizing that progress in the health sciences is essential for the continued well
being of populations at all levels, that progress and research are fundamentally linked,
and that excellence in research cannot exist without excellence in education, the School
of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University wishes to reconfirm its commitment to its
undergraduate curriculum.
Progress implies innovation; curricular reforms initiated at Western Reserve University
School of Medicine fifty years ago set a national standard for undergraduate medical
education. The faculty, student body, and administration of the School feel that as the
next century approaches it is appropriate to introduce curricular reforms that address
both the accelerating pace of advances in medical science and the rapidly changing systems
of delivery of health care.
Curriculum reform must take place in keeping with the values and goals of the School of
Medicine. The School will continue to admit a diverse and highly qualified student body
and will present its curriculum in a manner that accommodates a variety of learning
styles. The School places a high value on collegial relationships between faculty and
students and will strive to maintain this tradition. Emotional and intellectual maturity
are prerequisite for the ethical practice of medicine, and the School will provide an
atmosphere which reinforces these characteristics.
The public good requires a common fund of knowledge for individuals licensed to
practice medicine. The School of Medicine is a recognized national leader in medical
education, and it is expected that Case Western Reserve University will provide students
with the educational opportunities necessary to exceed minimum standards and to excel in
individually chosen areas of medical science or medical practice. In keeping with this
mission, the School of Medicine will graduate physicians who
- have a solid foundation in the basic and clinical sciences
- have recognized expertise in individually selected areas of special interest
- possess the ability to integrate science and humanistic values across disciplines
- are responsive to the needs of individual patients and to their communities and who
recognize their role in the distribution of medical resources
- improve the delivery of care by identifying and responsibly implementing new ideas in
their chosen fields, including innovative application of current knowledge.
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