Early Introduction of Clinical Teachings: Theories and Facts: Preparing the Graduate Medical School Curriculum

Comparing with the traditional curriculum which provides mainly basic medical science training in the first 2 years, the early exposure to clinical medicine is a major trend of medical education through recent decades. However the timing, extent, content and methods of the 'early clinical education' are not defined clearly and the application is various. Preparing the transformation of the curriculum from undergraduate to graduate entry at Ewha medical school, the concepts of 'early clinical exposure' into our new curriculum needs to be clear. We want to decide how early and how deep and what contents of clinical knowledge and skills are to be introduced in the new curriculum.

Literature review. Interview with a developer and the participants of the 'early clinical education' curricula which has been applied in the Carver College of Medicine, University of lowa since 1998.

The early exposure of clinical knowledge and skills has been introduced world widely and many curricula have it as early as the very week of entrance. Problem based learning, standardized patient program, clinical skill labs and clinical mentoring, etc. are being used with various modification. Early clinical education enhanced the loaming interest and professional minds to the medical students as well as their achievements.

The early clinical education will be applied to the new curriculum of the graduate school of medicine starting 2007 in Ewha Medical School.