The first four years of the new medical curriculum at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hongkong

Abstract

The Medical College of the Faculty of Medicine, University of HongKong, established in 1886, introduced a New Medical Curriculum in 1997 which emphasizes integration of basic and clical scieneces, problem- based learning and early clinical contacts. The curriculum also set four themes namely; Human Biology in Health and Disease, Doctors and Patients, Medicine and Society, and Professional Development. The objective was to conscientiousely train our graduates to become compassionate, caring,competent doctors; and life- long learners who would continue to develop their professional skills to provide a care of high standards. Various committees and groups were established under the umbrella of Undergraduate Education Committee to prepare the curriculum outline and the syllabus. The implementation process included PBL tutor training workshops, Continuous Evaluation and Assessments, creation of CAL and Clinical skills labs., PBL tutorial rooms and development of on-line curriculum; just to name a few. The first graduates of the new curriculum will qualify in June 2002 to begin their one year of internship. The initial observations suggest that the students have coped very well with the introduction of PBL and have become good communicators and are able to demonstrate their basic clinical and analytic skills much earlier in the course than before. Author will highlight in his presentation achievements, shortcoming and difficulties in implementation of the New Medical Curriculum.