Theme
Basic Sciences and Clinical Integration
INSTITUTION
University of Muenster
Recent advances in radiology and the widespread availability of imaging facilities require medical students to have thorough anatomical knowledge and to be able to apply it to a variety of medical imaging techniques. At the same time the methods of teaching gross anatomy are under debate (including the use of cadavers versus/in addition to the use of medical imaging).
In 2001, we established the elective course “Anatomy and Imaging” in undergraduate medical education as an interdisciplinary project of the Departments of Anatomy and Radiology. Radioanatomy (including CT) and ultrasound anatomy are taught by tutors in small groups (5-10 students), supervised by anatomists and radiologists. There are 32 lessons and a final examination. Anonymous evaluation has been performed continuously. Here we want to share our 10 years of experience with “Anatomy and Imaging”.
618 (306 females) second-year-students took part in the course between 2001 and 2012. Evaluation return rate was 90.1%. The general approval rate was 1.33 (Likert scale from 1 = excellent to 5 = poor). Highest ratings were given for clinical relevance (1.17).
Thus, the Medical Faculty of Muenster decided to integrate “Anatomy and Imaging” into the undergraduate curriculum in addition to the dissection course from 2013 onwards. The figure shows the evaluation results (mean) of all seminars given at the Medical Faculty in the winter semester of 2012/13. Of all these 44 seminars, "Anatomy and Imaging" (red) was ranked as number 1.
Integration of imaging in undergraduate medical education is highly accepted. Clinical relevance is evident.
Beside the dissection course medical imaging must become an integral part of teaching gross anatomy.
We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Markus Missler (Institute of Anatomy and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Muenster), Prof. Dr. Walter Heindel (Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Muenster) and Dr. Bernhard Marschall (Department of Medical Education, Medical Faculty, University of Muenster) for continuous support.