Ten key features of the future medical school—not an impossible dream

Abstract

Significant developments in medical education are necessary if medical schools are to respond to the pressures from advances in medicine, changes in health care delivery, and patient and public expectations. This article describes 10 key features of the medical school of the future: the move from the ivory tower to the real world, from just-in-case learning to just-in-time learning, from the basic science clinical divide to full integration, from undervalued teaching and the teacher to recognition of their importance, from the student as a client to the student as partner, from a mystery tour to a mapped journey, from standard uniform practice to an adaptive curriculum, from a failure to exploit learning technology to its effective and creative use, from assessment of learning to assessment for learning, and from working in isolation to greater collaboration. A move in the directions specified is necessary and possible. With some of the changes proposed already happening, it is not an impossible dream.