Medical School Objectives Project

Contemporary Issues in Medicine Reports

Contemporary Issues in Medicine: Oral Health Education for Medical and Dental Students (2008)
With the growing need to address patient care more systemically and holistically to include oral health and the systemic burden from oral diseases and disorders, an expert panel of physician and dental educators have identified shared requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the recognition, diagnosis, treatment and referral for oral health appropriate for medical students related to clinical dentistry and that of clinical medicine for dental students.

Education in Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices (2008)
A panel of academic and industry experts in drug therapy, pharmacology education and pharmaceutical R&D, provide recommendations on what medical students need to learn in order to become knowledgeable, safe and effective prescribers of medications.

The Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity (2007)
This report contains expert recommendations on the learning objectives and educational experiences needed in medical school curricula to better address overweight and obesity prevention and treatment. It was developed by experts in medicine, medical education, and public health communities with expertise in mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and medical specialties including bariatric surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and preventive medicine.

Musculoskeletal Medicine Education (2005)
A panel of musculoskeletal experts present learning objectives on musculoskeletal conditions for the undergraduate medical education program and suggest ways in which to integrate appropriate learning experiences into an existing curriculum.

Genetics Education (2004)
This report provides specific recommendations on the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that all graduating medical students must achieve, as well as providing recommendations for future educational needs in residency and practice.

Basic Science and Clinical Research (2001)
Two expert panels—one comprised of basic science educators and the other of clinical investigators—offer recommendations to help medical school deans and faculties ensure that their students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to practice scientifically based medicine throughout their careers.

Quality of Care (2001)
An expert panel considered quality improvement education within undergraduate medical education and addressed two fundamental questions: What should medical school students learn about quality of care issues? What kinds of educational experiences would allow students to achieve those learning objectives?

Communication in Medicine (1999)
Effective communication is key in the relationship between physician and patient, and is critical in exchanging information with families, colleagues, and other health care professionals. To communicate effectively with patients, physicians must understand how patients' spirituality and culture affect their views on health, illness, and end-of-life care.

Medical Informatics and Population Health (1998)
Medical informatics and population health are interrelated. Physicians must possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to be competent in medical informatics if they wish to apply systematic approaches for promoting and maintaining the health of defined populations. Thus, the reports of the informatics and population health panels are presented together.