Curriculum Development for Medical Education: A Six-Step Approach

At a time when society is demanding accountability from the medical education system and residency review committees are demanding written curricula, this book offers a practical, yet theoretically sound, approach to curriculum development in medicine.

The approach described in Curriculum Development for Medical Education has evolved over the past ten years, during which time the authors have taught curriculum development and evaluation skills to faculty and fellows in the Johns Hopkins University Faculty Development Program for Clinician-Educators. Program participants have used the techniques described here to develop curricula on topics as diverse as advance directives, office gynecology for the generalist, a renal elective for internal medicine residents, and an office-based preceptorship for first-year medical students.

Short, practical, and generic in its approach, the book begins with an overview of a six-step approach to curriculum development. Each succeeding chapter then covers one of the six steps: problem identification; targeted needs assessment; goals and objectives; education methods; implementation; and evaluation. Additional chapters address curriculum maintenance, enhancement, and dissemination. Throughout, examples are used to illustrate major points. An appendix provides the reader with a selected list of published and unpublished resources on funding, faculty development, and already developed curricula. Curriculum Development for Medical Education is designed for use by program directors and others who are responsible for the educational experiences of medical students, residents, fellows, and clinical practitioners.

David E. Kern, M.D., M.P.H., is associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and codirector of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Patricia A. Thomas, M.D., is assistant professor and deputy director for education in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Donna M. Howard, R.N., Dr.P.H., is assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Eric B. Bass, M.D., M.P.H. is associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.