Undergraduate Medical Education

Case-based Learning is an inquiry-based approach to learning medicine through clinical case scenarios in a collaborative small group setting. The focus is not just on knowledge acquisition but also on the acquisition of important skills for clinical work such as critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork, communication and lifelong learning.

Groups consist of 9-10 students and one faculty facilitator that twice a week. Groups stay together for 12 weeks and then change. Changing groups facilitates teamwork skills in joining new teams similar to the changing teams that students will experience during their clinical work.

On Day 1, the clinical scenario unfolds in short segments each providing information to help you accomplish your task. This process also will generate questions (also called learning issues). The generated questions that are identified by the group as important are then divided to be individually researched. On Day 2, students return to share their learning issues practicing communication and oral presentation skills, the case concludes and the group debriefs.