Zivanov Catherine, Li Xuanyi, Shah Kaustav P, Estrada Lourdes, Cutrer William B, Hooks Mary, Keedy Vicki, Dahlman Kimberly Brown
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA.
Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA.
Med Sci Educ. 2021 Apr 2;31(3):1029-1042. doi: 10.1007/s40670-021-01267-1. eCollection 2021 Jun.
Precision medicine is revolutionizing healthcare practices, most notably in oncology. With cancer being the second leading cause of death in the USA, it is important to integrate precision oncology content in undergraduate medical education.
In 2015, we launched a Integrated Science Course (ISC) for post-clerkship medical students at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM). In this ISC, students learned cancer biology and clinical oncology concepts through a combination of classroom and patient care activities. Student feedback from mid- and end-of-course surveys and student match data were analyzed and used to develop ongoing course improvements.
To date, 72 medical students have taken the ISC. Over 90% of students who completed end-of-course surveys agreed or strongly agreed that this course advanced their foundational science knowledge in clinical cancer medicine, that clinical relevance was provided during non-clinical foundational science learning activities, and that foundational science learning was embedded in course clinical experiences. Students who took this course most commonly matched in Internal Medicine, Pathology, Pediatrics, and Radiation Oncology. VUSM students who matched into Pathology and Radiation Oncology were more likely to take this ISC than students who matched in other specialties.
The ISC serves as a model for incorporating precision oncology, cancer biology foundational science, and oncology patient care activities in undergraduate medical education. The course prepares students to care for oncology patients in their fields of interests during their future career in medicine.
精准医学正在彻底改变医疗保健实践，在肿瘤学领域尤为显著。癌症是美国第二大死因，因此将精准肿瘤学内容纳入本科医学教育很重要。
2015年，我们为范德堡大学医学院（VUSM）临床实习后的医学生开设了一门综合科学课程（ISC）。在这门ISC课程中，学生通过课堂学习和患者护理活动相结合的方式学习癌症生物学和临床肿瘤学概念。分析了课程中期和期末调查的学生反馈以及学生匹配数据，并用于持续改进课程。
迄今为止，已有72名医学生参加了ISC课程。超过90%完成课程期末调查的学生同意或强烈同意，该课程提升了他们在临床癌症医学方面的基础科学知识，在非临床基础科学学习活动中提供了临床相关性，并且基础科学学习融入了课程临床经验。参加该课程的学生最常匹配到内科、病理学、儿科学和放射肿瘤学专业。与匹配到其他专业的学生相比，VUSM匹配到病理学和放射肿瘤学专业的学生更有可能参加这门ISC课程。
ISC课程是将精准肿瘤学、癌症生物学基础科学和肿瘤学患者护理活动纳入本科医学教育的一个范例。该课程使学生在未来的医学职业生涯中能够在自己感兴趣的领域照顾肿瘤患者。
