No. 351,
December 2002
Editor: Gregory Vercellotti,
M.D., verce001@umn.edu
Editorial Assistant: Allison
Campbell, aac@umn.edu
Virtual clinic launches
The new Minnesota Virtual Clinic, a
required Web-based primary care clinic, will help students understand the
relevance of their courses to the practice of medicine. Beginning with the class
of 2006, students log on almost every Wednesday afternoon to "see"
their patients whom they will follow for three years. These virtual patients
range in age from newborn to 90 and are diverse in race, education, employment,
lifestyle, normal development, and illness. Patients' problems are linked to
the courses that students are taking at the time and will gradually increase in
complexity.
Patient information includes an updated
problem list and the ongoing electronic medical record of each encounter,
whether a clinic or ER visit, a hospital discharge summary, or a phone follow
up. The students also have available the ongoing record of laboratory results,
medications, X-rays, pathology slides, and so on. A teaching component contains
additional information, questions, and answers. As the students advance, they
may be asked to provide additional information, make decisions, or answer
questions.
The Minnesota Virtual Clinic provides
clinical context for basic science courses, enhances pathophysiology and
Physician and Society courses, and provides a review of the basic science
behind the decisions made in the clinical years. Along the way, students will
learn how patients tell their stories and how doctors obtain, evaluate,
describe, and act upon those stories. We hope all those involved in teaching
will contribute to and use the virtual clinic patients.
--Catherine Niewoehner (niewo002@umn.edu)
LCME Subcommittee Chairs chosen
As part of the preparation for the LCME
accreditation visit March 28, 2004, Dean Deborah Powell has appointed the
subcommittee chairs. William Jacott, M.D., leads the Institutional Setting
subcommittee; James Pacala, M.D., leads Educational Program for the M.D.
degree; Thomas Mackenzie, M.D., leads the Medical Students subcommittee, with
the help of students Chloe Zera and Alen Sabati; Virginia Seybold, M.D., and
Anne Taylor, M.D., co-chair Faculty; and Jonathan Ravdin, M.D., leads
Educational Resources, with Charles Moldow, M.D., acting as a consultant.
Summer opportunities
The class of 2006 is the first to have a
valuable 9-week window in the summer to work in faculty laboratories.
Researchers currently signed up to mentor students include: David Bernlohr,
Ph.D., Biochemistry, with a project in obesity, diabetes and cytokine biology;
Sharon Allen, M.D., Ph.D., Family Practice & Community Health, for research
on women, osteoporosis, and smoking cessation; and Manoj Monga, M.D., Urologic
Surgery, in a study of kidney stones. In addition, community physicians,
rural-based programs, and the International Medical Education and Research
program are developing opportunities. We welcome faculty members with other
projects suitable for student researchers; contact Doug Wangensteen
(wange001@tc.umn.edu) or Ted Thompson (thomp005@umn.edu). Starting in January,
we also will have information for students about applying for $2,000 stipends
from the Minnesota Medical Foundation; the deadline to submit will be March 1.
Highlights from the AAMC Annual
Meeting, Nov. 8-13, 2002
LCME
representatives' insider tips include being candid in self-assessment, making
sure leaders are clear on the big picture of the school's history and
operations, and encouraging broad participation among faculty and students in
the self-study process.
AAMC
educational leaders advocated making residency
competencies serve as a framework for teaching and assessment across the
continuum of medical education, from undergraduate through continuing medical
education, reports Ilene Harris (harri001@umn.edu). Competencies include patient
care, knowledge, communication skills, professionalism, practice-based
learning, and systems-based practice.
Fostering
fairness is among the goals of our innovative Web-based clerkship registration
system, presented by medical student Chris Mickelson (Year 4) and Ted Thompson,
M.D. To see their slides, go to www.meded.umn.edu and click on the link.
Demonstration of a patient simulator
reinforced Dr. Ted Thompson's opinion that this is an effective teaching tool
that will also aid evaluations of faculty teaching. Looking at it from the
safety aspect, a simulator would be a boon. It is an expensive proposition,
however, at $200,000 for the first year and $100,000 estimated costs in years
following.
AOA News
This year, Alpha Omega Alpha, the National
Honor Medical Society celebrates its centennial. At the fall banquet on Nov.
19, 26 new members of the class of 2003 were inducted into the Minnesota
chapter, joining the 10 members elected in their third year. Dean Deborah
Powell spoke on "Professionalism and the Profession of Medicine."
Stephen C. Nelson, M.D., received the 2002 AOA Volunteer Clinical Faculty
Award. The AOA chapter also contributed $10,000 to the MMF to provide four
medical student scholarships.
Internationally speaking
At the Medical School's International
Education Day Nov. 22, Gordon A. Rockswold, M.D. ('70), received the Alumni
International Distinguished Physician Award in recognition of his work in
training and setting up emergency medicine programs abroad. Dr. Rockswold,
Hennepin County Medical Center Emergency Department, also is one of our
assistant professors. Student alumni of the International Medical Education and
Research program, which currently supports 47 of our medical students, also
spoke about their international experiences. For more information about IMER,
contact Sue Jackson (612) 625-7933) or imer@tc.umn.edu
William Hays, M.D., 1964-2002
Fourth-year Surgery resident William Scott
Hays, M.D., passed away last month after a brief battle with cancer. Dr. Hays
was one of two surgical residents to be honored with the Humanism and Teaching
Award from Year 3 students this year. Surgery Chairman David Dunn wrote of him:
"He cherished his family and friends, he valued his career, and he truly
made an impact on each of us." Dr. Hays earned his M.D. from the
University of New Mexico in 1999; his Ph.D. from that university in 1997; and a
political science degree from West Point in 1986. He is survived by, among
others, wife Toni Hays and teenage daughter Devon Hays.
Mentors make the connection
Mentoring a medical student has
re-energized Randy Hurley, M.D.--so much so that he is now mentoring two of
them, one a fourth-year and the other a first-year. He's not alone; there are
several examples among the more than 100 community physicians recruited by the
Hennepin County and Ramsey County Medical Societies. Students benefit from the
knowledge, connections, and wisdom of these practicing physicians and this
year, for the first time, there are more students than volunteer mentors. To
learn more about the program, contact Emily Heagle, (612) 624-9161 or
e.heagle@mmf.umn.edu
Editor's note: Time for reflection
As we approach the end of the year, the
time is ripe to reflect on our lives. Consider what Allan S. Berger wrote in
the February 2002 issue of Academic Medicine: arrogance is physicians'
professional pitfall. Whether reinforced by patients desiring rescue or health
systems that promote emotional distance, arrogance detracts from the nobility
of our profession, Dr. Berger reminds us. He writes: "It behooves each of
us physicians to remember that we are but instruments of healing and not its
source."
Mark your calendars
Jan. 15 - On Doctoring covers
performance-enhancing drugs; watch for details.
Jan. 31 - Wayne and Mary Sotile, authors
of "The Resilient Physician," and recognized as pioneers in the
fields of health psychology and marriage and family life, visit campus; watch
for details.