Contemporary Neuroscience Core Curriculum for Medical Schools.

TitleContemporary Neuroscience Core Curriculum for Medical Schools.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsGelb DJ, Kraakevik J, Safdieh JE, Agarwal S, Odia Y, Govindarajan R, Quick A, Soni M, Bickel J, Gamaldo C, Hannon P, Hatch HAM, Hernandez C, Merlin LR, Noble JM, Reyes-Iglesias Y, Salas RMarie E, Sandness DJames, Treat L, Benameur K, Brown RD, DeLuca GC, Garg N, Goldstein LB, Gutmann L, Henchcliffe C, Hessler A, Jordan JT, Kilgore SM, Khan J, Levin KH, Mohile NA, Nevel KS, Roberts K, Said RR, Simpson EP, Sirven JI, A Smith G, Southerland AMebane, Wilson RBhatt
Corporate AuthorsAAN Undergraduate Education Subcommittee(UES), AAN Education Committee
JournalNeurology
Date Published2021 Aug 16
ISSN1526-632X
Abstract

Medical students need to understand core neuroscience principles as a foundation for their required clinical experiences in neurology. In fact, they need a solid neuroscience foundation for their clinical experiences in all other medical disciplines also, because the nervous system plays such a critical role in the function of every organ system. Due to the rapid pace of neuroscience discoveries, it is unrealistic to expect students to master the entire field. It is also unnecessary, as students can expect to have ready access to electronic reference sources no matter where they practice. In the pre-clerkship phase of medical school, the focus should be on providing students with the foundational knowledge to use those resources effectively and interpret them correctly. This article describes an organizational framework for teaching the essential neuroscience background needed by all physicians. This is particularly germane at a time when many medical schools are re-assessing traditional practices and instituting curricular changes such as competency-based approaches, earlier clinical immersion, and increased emphasis on active learning. This article reviews factors that should be considered when developing the pre-clerkship neuroscience curriculum, including goals and objectives for the curriculum, the general topics to include, teaching and assessment methodology, who should direct the course, and the areas of expertise of faculty who might be enlisted as teachers or content experts. These guidelines were developed by a work group of experienced educators appointed by the Undergraduate Education Subcommittee (UES) of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). They were then successively reviewed, edited, and approved by the entire UES, the AAN Education Committee, and the AAN Board of Directors.

DOI10.1212/WNL.0000000000012664
Alternate JournalNeurology
PubMed ID34400582

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