Associate Professor Faith Chia on enhanced medical school curriculum

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine's Enhanced Anatomy Curriculum: Mandatory Cadaveric Dissection

Key Concepts: Cadaveric dissection, anatomy education, clinical application, ethics of body donation, silent mentors, technology-enhanced learning, simulated operating theater, medical curriculum reform.

Gaps in Current Anatomy Training and the Enhanced Curriculum

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKC Medicine) already had a "very robust anatomy curriculum" with a heavy focus on virtual dissection, virtual reality, and plasticinated models. However, as part of a curriculum reform to better meet societal and learner needs, the school questioned how to surpass international standards and integrate anatomy into the clinical years.

Unique Placement of Cadaveric Dissection

Traditionally, anatomy is taught in the first two years of medical school (pre-clinical). LKC Medicine is uniquely placing cadaveric dissection in the third and fourth years, after students have begun seeing patients in wards and clinics. This allows students to connect clinical applications to anatomy, making it more relevant to their future practice.

Rationale for Delayed Dissection

• The human body is a "very, very precious resource," and students can utilize it more effectively with a foundational knowledge gained in the first two years through technology-enhanced methods.
• Clinical anatomy is emphasized, with sessions co-taught by surgeons from NHG health. This co-design and co-facilitation bring the subject to life and highlight its practical application.

Importance of Dissection Despite Technological Advancements

Despite the trend of medical schools moving towards technology and away from dissection, LKC Medicine aims to balance the best of both worlds. Each human body is unique, and learning from textbooks or virtual reality lacks the impact of physically touching and dissecting human tissue. This hands-on experience is crucial for learning anatomy and developing surgical skills. "The human body is everybody is different and everybody is unique. ...learning something from a textbook or even through virtual reality does not have that same impact as actually touching and dissecting a human body and tissue" - Associate Professor Faith Chap. Anatomy is crucial for all physicians, regardless of specialization (family physician, internist, or surgeon).

Simulated Operating Theater Environment

Cadaveric dissection sessions are held in a simulated operating theater environment, exposing students to the sights, smells, and instruments of an operating room, preparing them for future practice.

Student Feedback on the Dissection Experience

Two pilot programs revealed that students were "uniformly excited and really all inspired" by the experience. The ability to "touch firsthand" and dissect the body to see how organs interact was described as "really special." Students expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

Ethics of Body Procurement and Donation

Ethical considerations are paramount. The school procures cadavers from overseas through ethical sources due to local scarcity. Students undergo in-depth modules on the ethics of cadaveric dissection before entering the dissection room.

The Silent Mentor Pledge and Reflection

Students and tutors take a "pledge for the silent mentors," expressing respect for the dignity of the body and gratitude for the gift of learning. Students write a reflection piece after the experience to solidify the humanistic aspect of anatomy dissection. This is done to ensure that students understand "that this was once a living body and and to express their gratitude that this gift was given to them for their learning" - Associate Professor Faith Chap.

Synthesis/Conclusion

LKC Medicine's enhanced anatomy curriculum emphasizes a blended approach combining technology-enhanced learning with mandatory cadaveric dissection in the later clinical years. This unique strategy aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of anatomy, improved surgical skills, and a strong ethical foundation rooted in respect for body donors, ultimately leading to better-prepared and more compassionate doctors.