Retention of anatomical knowledge: Impact of current curricular approaches

Abstract

Over the past decade significant curricular changes have altered medical student education related to the anatomical sciences. The purpose of this study was to measure retention of anatomical knowledge as student's progress through medical school. The anatomy program at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is unique not only in its presentation style, but also its duration. In the first year the course meets for 2 hours every Monday for 28 weeks. This is much shorter than the current national average. However, in the second year, the students have an anatomy session once during each of the second year courses where the anatomy presented during the first year is revisited. Additionally, when the medical students participate in their clinical rotation in surgery, they are again able to review the anatomy during a 2 hour afternoon session. Does revisiting anatomy during later years in medical school impact the retention of anatomical knowledge? To determine this, students were asked to complete an assessment tool consisting of multiple choice and fill‐in‐the‐blank questions at various times during their medical school career. The results of this ongoing study will be discussed.