© Springer International Publishing AG 2018 15
T.S. Köhler, B. Schwartz (eds.), Surgeons as Educators,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64728-9_2
C.F. McCammon, MD MPH
Department of Emergency Medicine, EVMS, Norfolk, VA, USA
K. McCammon, MD (*)
Department of Urology, EVMS, Norfolk, VA, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
2
Surgical Curriculum Development
Carol F. McCammon and Kurt McCammon
As the landscape of medical practice in the United States rapidly changes with the
advent of patient safety and quality mandates in parallel with cost reduction efforts,
medical education is at risk of harm and requires diligent attention to keep up with
these demands to protect the needs of learners and support high-quality programs in
the current fluctuating environment [ 1 ]. Great responsibility rests on the shoulders
of medical educators to assess these shifting circumstances to enhance and protect
the learning experience through curriculum development to ensure the best educa-
tional outcomes.
An educational curriculum is defined as a planned educational experience
through a particular course of study and involvement. It is important to understand
that medical educators have a professional and ethical obligation to meet the needs
of their learners, the patients served, and the society as a whole. In order to develop
the most appropriate curriculum for learners, a logical systematic approach to cur-
riculum development will help achieve this outcome. A six-step process is recom-
mended in the development of an educational curriculum. These steps include:
- Conduct a needs assessment.
- Set well-defined goals and objectives.
- Determine instructional method(s).
- Create instructional materials.
- Teach the learners.
- Evaluate student and resident performance and the effectiveness of teaching
methods and the curriculum as a whole.