Student feedback is key to continuous quality improvement in all phases of our curriculum and our medical school. Here’s how the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU has responded to student suggestions and input.
You Said
We want more service learning opportunities.
We did
Dr. Bonnell and team have developed a variety of opportunities for service learning including all of CO 2027 participating in Academy 4 as part of the curriculum, as well as increased opportunities across classes to work at Mercy Clinic.
You Said
We need microbiology sooner in Neuro 1.
We did
We moved microbiology sessions earlier in Neuro 1.
You Said
Optimize the timing of the retake of an exam.
We did
We have worked hard to place the retake to optimize student needs, including study time, but also balancing the student’s schedule and timely progress.
You Said
We want more opportunities to interact with other graduate students at TCU.
We did
CO 2027 was able to participate in an online book club with nursing and other students and faculty and discussed the book “Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm Ravaged Hospital” from a variety of perspectives. Other opportunities are being planned.
You Said
We don’t want PIBL during MHD exam weeks.
We did
We removed PIBL from exam weeks during MHD.
You Said
We need some time before the Transition to Residency course.
We did
The timing of the course was adjusted to have time to find housing and address other residency-required obligations. Extensive work has gone into making the course as efficient and high yield as possible to prepare for the intern year.
You Said
Try to align NBME questions used with objectives for sessions.
We did
Faculty must choose NBME questions that are covered by the objectives in the course. Additionally, all questions are reviewed by an exam review committee, addressing alignment with objectives and degree of difficulty (range from ‘easy’ to ‘difficult’).
You Said
We want more standardization around how clinical skills are taught by various cohort faculty members.
We did
The Clinical Skills leadership recently developed a handbook that details the exact expectations of each component of the physical exam and this will be distributed to students and utilized by faculty in both Phase 1 and the LIC to ensure that expectations are clear and fair both for learning and for OSCEs and other assessments.
You Said
Provide a preview of the conditions presented in the Content Framing Sessions to conceptualize the cases beforehand and better engage with the patient.
We did
Posted previews of the cases presented for Content Framing Sessions on Canvas, available by Friday at noon the prior week, to enhance understanding and engagement during the sessions.
You Said
We want better aligned Mechanisms of Health and Disease (MHD) content that flows together through Phase 1.
We did
The blocks of content have been adjusted to align better for the Phase 1 period.
You Said
Breaking a content theme with a holiday break is suboptimal.
We did
We adjusted all Phase 1 content to not be split by holiday time where possible.
You Said
We need peer tutoring.
We did
Launched the Peer Tutoring Program in November 2022, which included nine peer tutors from the class of 2024 and class of 2025 who assisted with MHD Curriculum Content Areas and Step preparation throughout the year.
Based on a survey of students who took part in the program, tutors scored an average rating of 9.75 out of 10 for assisting students with meeting their goal for the tutoring session. Students reported an average of 9 out of 10 confidence level in their own abilities after their tutor session and 100 percent of respondents said they would make another tutoring appointment.
You Said
Class of 2027 said it would be helpful to have the final set of MHD practice questions prior to the week of the exam.
We did
MHD faculty are now posting the final set of MHD practice questions on Canvas, no later than noon on Friday the week before the exam. This gives students a full week to review the practice questions prior to the exam.
You Said
We need additional resources to prepare for Step 1.
We did
Revamped and expanded our Step 1 review program resulting in our new Saturday School offerings.
Provided each student with a free subscription to UWORLD.
Provided an in-house team of Learning Specialists to help students develop a study plan and assess readiness to sit for the exam.
