BioMEMS Education at Louisiana Tech University

A course in BioMEMS was recently taught at the senior undergraduate and graduate level at Louisiana Tech University and the Institute for Micromanufacturing. The course focused on the basic principles and applications of MEMS technology in the area of biomedical microsystems. The course was well received and had an enrollment well above that expected. Student feedback and a review of the course evaluations indicated that the course was effective in achieving its aims. A poster session involving the presentation of student design projects at the end of the course proved to be a highlight and a valuable experience for all involved. While the course proved successful, suggestions for improvement of the course are outlined and a summary of student responses is presented. An overview of a BioMEMS short course based on the University course is also presented.     

Children's concepts and school learning

The apparently limited classroom application of theories of learning led to an emphasis on detailed observational studies of teachers in action which produced data concerning management and teaching techniques of more obvious use to practising teachers. However, it is argued here that research into children's conceptual development is an essential complement to this initiative. Such research demonstrates the range and quality of children's concepts in areas of learning central to the school curriculum; it describes techniques for disclosing children's concepts; and it identifies the developing pattern of children's thinking which can be used to good effect in arranging appropriate and challenging learning experiences. The importance of clarity of intentions in bringing a sense of purpose and direction to the activities of learning and teaching is also emphasized.     

Integrating human factors into the medical curriculum

Background  The study of human factors is a scientific discipline that deals with the interactions between human beings and the elements of a system. This is important because shortcomings in these areas, if unchecked, can result in adverse outcomes. Research into human factors in industries where safety is paramount has provided the basis of countermeasures against human error. Adverse outcomes in medicine resulting from human error exact a high cost in both patient suffering and financial outlay.
CRM training  One of the approaches used to minimise the effect of human error is to train people in a set of knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin the domain-specific competencies for that profession. These are referred to as non-technical skills (NTS). In aviation, such an approach has been shown to be both translatable from the training environment to the workplace and effective in reducing adverse outcomes.
Discussion  Medicine has incorporated this style of training, usually centred around simulator-based courses, but as yet in a piecemeal, episodic fashion which relies on participants volunteering to attend courses. Unlike other industries there is no systematic approach to linking the content of this teaching with the more conventional range of topics. As a consequence it is difficult to assess the impact of human factors training in medicine. This is partly because very little work has been done to date in identifying the key non-technical skills required in medicine, and the overall experience of workplace based assessment is limited. Lessons from other high reliability organisations may help to address the main challenges of developing the content, integrating it into the curriculum, reinforcing the concepts in the workplace through staff development and establishing its role in summative assessment.     

An Educator''s Guide to Teaching Emergency Medicine to Medical Students

There is a need for every medical school graduate to handle emergencies as they arise in the daily practice of medicine. Emergency medicine (EM) educators are in a unique position to provide students with basic life support skills, guidance in assessing the undifferentiated patient, and exposure to the specialty of EM during all years of medical school. Emergency physicians can become involved in a variety of education experiences that can supplement the preclinical curriculum and provide access to our specialty at an early stage. A well-designed course in the senior year allows students to develop critical thinking and patient management skills that are necessary for any medical career path. It can ensure that all medical students are exposed to the skills essential for evaluating and stabilizing the acutely ill patient. To implement this type of course, learning objectives and evaluation methods must be set when the curriculum is developed. An effective course combines didactic and clinical components that draw on the strengths of the teaching institution and faculty of the department. A structured clerkship orientation session and system for feedback to students are essential in nurturing the development of student learners. This article provides an approach to assist the medical student clerkship director in planning and implementing EM education experiences for students at all levels of training, with an emphasis on the senior-year rotation.     

中医基础科学人才培养模式的探索

作为国家理科基础，我们中医基础学科从以下4方面做了有益探索：①人才培养注重夯实人文底蕴、坚持中医特色、打造厚实基础、培养创新能力；②教学理念更新；③实践教学强化实验创新、人文社会实践、临床实习、毕业实习、课外科技活动：④改革培养模式。     

浅议地方医学院校物理教学的现状及改革

阐述当前医学院校特别是地方性院校医学物理教学的现状,并提出了改革的措施。     

Choosing a career in general practice: the influence of medical schools

Summary. This paper reviews the literature on career choice to investigate the undergraduate influences on the preference of Australian graduates for a career in general practice. Although isolation of influencing factors is difficult, admission criteria and undergraduate curricula may influence career preference. As the institutional environment of medical schools is weighted towards scientific research and specialized medicine, medical students may be socialized into choosing non-generalist careers. Medical schools should consider broadening selection criteria and curriculum exposure to produce graduates with a broad range of career interests.     

Education in family and community health: the challenge faced by a new medical school

This paper describes the efforts of the Department of Family and Community Health at Sultan Qaboos University in providing opportunities for the development of 'hands-on' problem-solving skills appropriate for Oman. The curriculum of the Department is discussed, highlighting the unusual emphasis of this discipline in both the preclinical and clinical curriculum of the College of Medicine. The importance of continuous assessment and supervision of students is discussed. Course-work in the preclinical curriculum of the Department is kept to a minimum. Field-work forms an important part of preclinical training, where application and problem-based learning are emphasized. During the clinical years the students are exposed to an integrated series of lectures and practicals covering core knowledge in clinical medicine. Practical clinical training, over a total period of 15 weeks, takes place at a variety of sites where common problems in primary health care in Oman are handled by students under supervision.     

Gross anatomy: An outdated subject or an essential part of a modern medical curriculum? Results of a questionnaire circulated to final-year medical students

Final-year undergraduate medical students were given a questionnaire on the gross anatomy curriculum they had experienced in their first year at medical school 5 years earlier. They were asked to evaluate the relevance of the dissection course, lectures and seminars in gross anatomy for clinical courses, clerkships, and everyday practical work on the ward. About two-thirds of the students found the time spent on 10 different regions in anatomy to be adequate, and a considerable number of students would have liked even more details. The vast majority expressed a wish to repeat topographical anatomy during their clinical teaching. Furthermore, ～75% of the students showed interest in short, specialized dissection courses during the clinical curriculum. Medical students just before graduation ranked gross anatomy with the dissection course and integrated clinical topics as a keystone for their clinical courses. The results of such surveys should be taken into consideration when discussing modification to teaching gross anatomy or arguing about a balanced dissection course. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

物理学在医学影像中的应用

物理学对医学的贡献是巨大的，物理学与医学等学科的交叉碰撞在医学领域中产生了许多丰硕成果，现代的医学影像就是其中的成果之一。本文阐述了物理学在现代四大医学影像中的应用。