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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

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01-01-2017 | Teaching Anatomy

Applied clinical anatomy: the successful integration of anatomy into specialty-specific senior electives

Authors: Helen Morgan, John Zeller, David T. Hughes, Suzanne Dooley-Hash, Katherine Klein, Rachel Caty, Sally Santen

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Purpose

A strong foundation in anatomical knowledge is essential for physicians in all fields. Despite this established importance, anatomy continues to be primarily taught only during the pre-clinical years of medical school. Senior medical students have more mature clinical reasoning and analytical skills; therefore, advanced anatomy courses have great potential to integrate basic and clinical sciences to better prepare senior medical students for residency.

Methods

At our institution, five electives have been implemented that integrate anatomical education in clinical contexts in the fields of emergency medicine, musculoskeletal medicine, radiology, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. These 4-week courses are all offered in the spring of the final year of medical school. The course curricula, content, and evaluation data are described for each of the courses.

Results

The five electives have been extremely popular at our institution, and all have been consistently filled each year by students entering diverse disciplines. Course evaluations have been positive and students specifically note how these courses allow them the opportunity to integrate basic anatomical knowledge into clinical contexts. Students have marked improvement in anatomical knowledge after completion of these electives.

Conclusions

Advanced anatomy courses that integrate anatomical education with clinical reasoning are important curricular innovations that are popular with students and lead to important improvements in anatomical knowledge. Anatomists can lead the charge for better integration of basic sciences into senior medical school curricula.

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Title: Applied clinical anatomy: the successful integration of anatomy into specialty-specific senior electives
Authors: Helen Morgan
John Zeller
David T. Hughes
Suzanne Dooley-Hash
Katherine Klein
Rachel Caty
Sally Santen
Publication date: 01-01-2017
Publisher: Springer Paris
Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1713-y

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Applied clinical anatomy: the successful integration of anatomy into specialty-specific senior electives

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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