Longitudinal Curricular Themes
The training of physicians and practice of medicine continually evolves as the needs of society change and new innovative approaches to health care delivery and disease treatment and prevention are discovered. The Wayne State University School of Medicine has developed Longitudinal Curricular Themes (LCTs): important topics, reinforced across the curriculum, designed to guide and prepare medical students to become modern physicians and help them provide exceptional care.
The Wayne State University School of Medicine has LCTs through the continuum of undergraduate medical education. The LCTs add value and continuity in the medical education program as they build on each other throughout the four years of the curriculum. The students are exposed to the LCTs in various learning environments including small groups, laboratories, lectures and patient cases. Each LCT has defined objectives, which are mapped to the school’s Medical Student Competencies and Institutional Learning Objectives.
The process for maintaining and updating the LCTs involves working with the course and clerkship directors to verify that the content is taught and utilizing the curriculum mapping tool. The LCTs provide the Wayne State University School of Medicine the information needed to monitor gaps and redundancies in the medical education program.
The LCTs were first established in 2006. In 2014 the Curriculum Committee approved the deletion of the Terrorism, Disaster, Public Health Emergency curriculum and the addition of the following themes: Quality and Patient Safety, Inter-professional Teams and Ultrasound Training. LCTs are approved and monitored by the Curriculum Committee.
To Download the Complete Longitudinal Curricular Themes (Charts) Click Here!
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (Chart - PDF)
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse contribute to substantial morbidity and mortality, increasing the need for health resources. Medical students are taught about the physiologic effects of drugs and their correlation with specific diseases. Future physicians learn how to screen for abuse and determine the patient’s readiness to change. When faced with overuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, physicians need to be able to identify, intervene and treat the abuse, as well as assist the patient during withdrawal. By treating abuse quickly and effectively, health resources are conserved.
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Clinical Prevention and Population Health (Chart - PDF)
There are numerous societal factors that can affect health, such as cultural beliefs, socioeconomic advantages, and the built environment. Medical students are taught how to approach the health of defined populations, as well as individuals. Physicians need to investigate and recognize the afflictions that currently affect a given population. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention are all important in the care of individuals and populations. Physicians must know the guidelines, as well as the techniques to accomplish evidence-based prevention, resulting in improvements in the health of their population, and the community at large.
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Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Chart - PDF)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) includes prevention, treatment and maintenance of patients. It is increasingly important for medical students to be familiar with the utility of CAM practices and therapies, including methods to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition, future physicians must perfect the ability to obtain information from patients about their CAM practices, as well as have openness to CAM treatments, recognizing the possible advantages and risks for patient outcomes.
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Cultural Competence and Health Disparities (Chart - PDF)
Reducing health disparities has been a public health agenda item for over three decades. Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, disabilities, and cultural beliefs have all been linked to health inequities. Metropolitan Detroit is home to people of many different cultures, backgrounds and socioeconomic strata. Not only from different parts of the world, but also from different backgrounds. As a result, medical students must learn to be sensitive to cultural differences, understand the diversity within the community in which they serve, and recognize and address health disparities.
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End-of-Life Issues (Chart - PDF)
Patients with terminal illnesses require specialized care. Patients and their families often require assistance with care planning. In addition, legal issues surrounding end-of-life care needs to be fully understood by the physician so that they can convey this information clearly and compassionately to the patient, and other decision makers. Medical students are taught the basics in hospice and palliative medicine, how to cope with death and consider the many dynamics and potential issues when caring for a patients with life-threatening illnesses.
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Ethics and Professionalism (Chart - PDF)
Personal development of ethics and professionalism start before the first year of medical school, but once in medical school the definitions become specifically catered toward clinical practice. There are many ethical decisions to be made in patient care including, to name just a few: end-of-life care, reproductive rights, patient quality and safety, and genetic testing, patients and patients’ families. Therefore, maintaining high ethical standards, as well as training students to be exemplar physicians with strong professional attributes and communication skills is a priority at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
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Geriatrics and Gerontology (Chart - PDF)
With advancements in healthcare, increased life expectancy and the aging Baby Boomer population, there is an increase in medical issues related to aging and a greater need for knowledge and skill in this area. In order to care for the aging population, future physicians must learn how the aging process changes physical, mental and social aspects of their patients’ lives. It is important for future physicians to not only know, but understand the health issues that affect the elderly and the needs of this population to deliver top quality healthcare.
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Human Sexuality (Chart - PDF)
Sexual disorders and dysfunctions are derived from biological, psychological, and social factors. Medical students are taught to obtain sexual histories while remaining respectful of differences in religious beliefs, cultures, sexual orientation and preferences. In addition to understanding normal sexuality, common dysfunctions and abnormalities, an extensive knowledge of male and female reproductive physiology are needed to deliver the best care to patients. Future physicians need to understand not only the role that human sexuality plays in patient care, but also understand how to treat and prevent diseases that are sexually transmitted.
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Interpersonal Violence across the Lifespan (Chart - PDF)
Violence can occur at any point throughout one’s lifespan. An important aspect of prevention is being able to recognize the signs of abuse, including both mental and physical injuries. In addition, it is essential to know about local laws related to abuse and what is required of physicians when they encounter abuse. Future physicians must be able to screen, intervene, and treat patients who are at risk, or who have been the victims of violence.
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Inter-professional Teams (Chart - PDF)
The delivery of healthcare requires many different professionals including nurses, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists. With strong inter-professional healthcare teams, not only will each member be able to complete job tasks with higher efficiency, but they will also deliver top quality care. Medical students are at an ideal point in their professional development to not only learn, but master, team communication and teamwork skills. In order to provide exceptional care, future physicians must be able to coordinate services with their colleagues and work collaboratively.
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Managing Care Curriculum (Chart - PDF)
The healthcare system in the United States is confusing and continuously evolving under the Affordable Care Act. In order to provide quality care for patients, physicians have to reduce the cost of healthcare while maintaining an effective health care system. Medical students are taught how government policies, public health services, and healthcare insurance providers play a role in the financing and delivery of healthcare.. Future physicians need to be prepared to effectively practice high quality, cost effective care in the ever changing healthcare landscape.
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Occupational and Environment Medicine (Chart - PDF)
Occupational health focuses on understanding that certain jobs have specific risks and hazards; in order to maintain optimal health and reduce the chance of physical, chemical or psychological risks, occupational and environmental hazards need to recognized and prevented or minimized. Environmental hazards such as nuclear incidents, air water pollution, or food poisoning, can affect large populaces. Future physicians need to understand the relationship between the workplace and environment to health and potential risks involved, in order to best serve their patients.
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Quality and Patient Safety (Chart - PDF)
Quality health care can be defined in many different ways: cost effective care, optimal health outcomes, and professional interactions. . Minimizing errors, regardless of the definition of quality, not only helps keep medical costs low, but also optimizes patient care and safety. One of the ways to improve quality in health care is to assess, implement and measure quality improvement methods. Patient safety, a key to health care quality, can be maintained by complying with safety procedures and practices. Medical students are trained in these methods resulting in future physicians who deliver both safe and high quality care.
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Translational/ Evidence Based Medicine (Chart - PDF)
Translational medicine aims to expedite the discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments by using a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative approach and to have current, high-quality, biomedical research as the basis for medical decision making. Basic skills and concepts are developed during the first year of medical education and build throughout the physician’s practice of medicine. To improve the health of patients and the community, future physicians need to be able to critically appraise the e current research findings and translate them into their practice.
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Ultrasound (Chart - PDF)
The advancement of technology has changed the delivery of healthcare and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. One such technology, ultrasonography, is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce relatively precise images of structures within the body. Ultrasonography can be used to evaluate pain or swelling, examine internal organs, guide medical procedures, and diagnose certain conditions. The applications are vast, and therefore it is important to learn basic functioning in undergraduate medical education. Medical students are taught the skills to effectively use and understand the application of ultrasound in medical imaging, detection and diagnosis.
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