Rethinking Anatomy: How to Overcome Challenges of Medical Education's Evolution.

Abstract

Due to scientific and technological development, Medical Education has been readjusting its focus and strategies. Medicalcurriculum has been adopting a vertical integration model, in which basic and clinical sciences coexist during medical instruction.This context favours the introduction of new complementary technology-based pedagogical approaches. Thus, even traditional coresciences of medical curriculum, like Anatomy, are refocusing their teaching/learning paradigm. We performed a bibliographic review aiming to reflect on Medical Education's current pedagogical trend, byanalysing the advantages of the introduction and diversification of pedagogical approaches in Anatomy Education. Anatomy Education's status quo is characterized by: less available teaching time, increasing demands from radiology andendoscopy imaging and other invasive and non-invasive medical techniques, increasing number of medical students and other logisticalrestrains exposed by the current Medical Education scenario. The traditional learning approach, mainly based on cadaveric dissection,is drifting to complementary newer technologies - such as 3D models or 2D/3D digital imaging - to examine the anatomy of the humanbody. Also, knowledge transfer is taking different channels, as learning management systems, social networks and computer-assistedlearning and assessment are assuming relevant roles. The future holds promising approaches for education models. The development of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Realityand Learning Analytics could provide analytic tools towards a real-time and personalized learning process. A reflection on Anatomy Education, as a comprehensive model, allows us to understand Medical Education's complexity.Therefore, the present Medical Education context favours a blended learning approach, in which multi-modality pedagogical strategiesmay become the landmark.