Toward a more professional and practical medical education: a novel Central European approach

Abstract

Heinz Drexel,1–4,* Alexander Vonbank,1–3,* Peter Fraunberger,3,5 Walter F Riesen,3 Christoph H Saely1–3 1Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment, 2Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Academic Teaching Hospital Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria; 3Private University of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Triesen, Liechtenstein; 4Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 5Medical Central Laboratories, Feldkirch, Austria  *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: We here present an innovative curriculum for a complete medical education that conforms to the current European Bologna system of academic training. The curriculum aims at raising doctors who are excellently prepared for clinical work over as short a time as 5 years; it provides a comprehensive, yet shorter than usual, education that strongly pronounces the importance of increasing the students’ practical clinical competences and rigorously excludes superfluous contents. The curriculum encompasses 52 modules, 32 at the bachelor’s and 20 at the master’s level. Already at the level of the bachelor degree, full employability is given; the students finish the master’s course as medical doctors optimally prepared to manage patients at the level of postgraduate medical education. The structure of the curriculum is modular; each modular component is essential for medical education and contains an average of five European Credit Transfer System credits, amounting to 150 hours of education. Depending on the subspecialty, the courses include lectures, seminars, practical laboratory training, and clinical training at varying quantities. In addition to attendance times, sufficient time slots are prepared for self-study in lectures, seminars, and practical work. With our curriculum, we provide an easily applicable backbone for a modern course of medicine that can be installed also at smaller academic institutions. Keywords: Bologna criteria, medical education, bedside teaching, practical medical education