As some medical schools rewrite their programs, the University of Alabama at Birmingham's medical school modified its curriculum in 2023 to prioritize students' clinical reasoning.
Traditionally, first and second year medical students learn which information is crucial before applying it in clinical work in their third and fourth years, according to the university. At the UAB Heersick School of Medicine, the Clinical Reasonings and Integrated Skills Program (CRISP) introduces the practical application of those skills earlier in medical education.
By applying clinical reasoning in the first year, the school said it is "preparing students for the daily challenges of clinical work" and meeting "the needs of modern medical students."
The new program also introduces point-of-care ultrasound as the fifth pillar of the physical exam amid increasing utilization of these devices. During the 2023-24 academic year, all medical students could choose to check out a POCUS device "to carry with them throughout all clinical rotations," the university said.
As it receives early positive feedback, UAB said it plans to continue evolving CRISP to meet the evolving needs of medical education.