Sandy Cook, PhDAssociate Dean, Curriculum

Robert Kamei, MDVice Dean, Education

Vancouver, Canada 2007

TBL in the Medical School Admissions

Process

Agenda Introductions: Sandy

Background: Bob

Brief description of Singapore

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Why TBL was chosen

A brief description of the curriculum

Other interesting facts about the GMS

What we did with Admissions and why?: Sandy

What we found

What we can use your help with: Sandy and Bob

• Dr. Sandy Cook– Associate Dean, Curriculum

• Dr. Robert Kamei– Vice Dean, Education

Southeast Asia

•20th smallest country, 250 sq miles

•6,430 People/Sq Km, 2nd most densely populated

Singapore

The beginnings of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore can be traced to 2000, when Singapore launched an ambitious Biomedical Sciences Initiative designed to make the country the biomedical hub of Asia and to attract both research and health sector manufacturing capabilities to Singapore.

History of the GMS

• “Creating and attracting research talent is crucial to Singapore’s drive to become a knowledge-based economy” according to members of the Research Innovation and Enterprise Council, or RIEC, chaired by Prime Minister Lee. (Channel News Asia; 6/7/06)

• “Over the next 5 years, 1.4 billion will be set aside to fund the development of 3 areas of R&D that will drive Singapore’s economic future.” – Biomedical science, environmental and water, interactive and

digital media– “In the area of biomedical research, in which the country has

been actively involved, the focus would be on the second phase of translating basic research to clinical applications”

(Today On-line; 8/7/06)

Commitment to Physician Scientists

From the Test Tube to the Bedside-- the GMS mission

National University of Singapore

Duke UniversitySchool of Medicine

Durham, North Carolina

Typical Educational Paths

Kindergarten

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

Undergrad University

Medical School

Internship & Residency

Fellowship (optional)

Attending Physician

Kindergarten 1 & 2

Primary 1–6

Secondary 1–4

High School

University (Medical School)

Internship

Medical Officer

Post Grad Specialization

Registrar

Consultant

Senior Consultant

USA Singapore

5-6yrs

7-12

13-16

17-18

19-23

24-25

25-on

5 yrs

6-11

12-13

14-17

18-21

22-25

26-on

First-year Courses

• Molecules and Cells– Biochemistry, Immunology, Cell Biology

• Normal Body– Anatomy, Physiology, Histology

• Brain and Behavior– Behavioral Medicine, Neuro-anatomy, Neuro-Biology

• Body and Disease– Pathology, Microbiology

• Practice Course– History Taking, Physical Examination, Presentation skills

“The learning process can be divided into the accumulation of bits of information (memory) and the movement of this into patterns (thinking). The compulsive learner is incapable of thinking. There is always another bit to be memorized and, if they are all learned, there is little time to rearrange the bits. It is also clear that without any bits there is no thinking.”

Eugene Stead, MDChair, Department of Medicine

Why TBL?

• Singaporean/Asian Students excel in knowledge/test taking

• To accomplish the mission of the GMS requires attention to “Thinking skills”

• Break down “teacher centered” education to encourage spirit of inquiry

GMS Education Team

• Dr. Frank Starmer– Associate Dean, Learning

Technology

• Dr. Doyle Graham– Course Director, Body

and Disease

• Dr. Patrick Tan– Course Director,

Molecules and Cells

Some facts about our 26 students….

• Age: – Average (25 yrs) – Range: (21 to 31 years)

• Gender: Male (7) Female (19)• Nationality:

– Singapore (18)– American (2)– Indonesia (2)– British (1)– Malaysia (1)– Philippines (1)– India (1)

• Undergraduate institutions:– Singapore (15)

• National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

– United States (9)• Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth

College, Davidson College, Emery University, Pomona Claremont College, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, Utah State University

– England (1)• Oxford College

– Australia (1)• University of Sydney

• Undergraduate degrees– Biology/Life Sciences (14)– Engineering (Mechanical, Bioengineering) (5)– Pharmacy/Pharmacology (4)– Computer Science (2)– Chemistry (1)

• Graduate degrees– Masters Degree (4)– PhD (1)

Interim Teaching Facility

Singapore General Hospital

KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

PERMANENT FACILITY

Duke – NUS Graduate School of Medicine Singapore CPG – Hillier Team

Duke – NUS Graduate School of Medicine Singapore CPG – Hillier Team

Briefing at a GMS Applicant Interview Day

The Interview

Scene at a GMS Team Learning Session

www.gms.edu.sg

Dr. Pat Casey Senior Vice Dean: Research

Dr. Ranga KrishnanVice Dean, Clinical Research

– “I have never tried to convert medical students into textbooks. If we did, we would clearly be forced to lower tuition since the best composite of medical knowledge can be purchased for about $150” Eugene Stead, MD

A New Breed of Physician:

• Well trained to care for patients• Physician Scientist: able to contribute to the

advance of knowledge• Critical thinker, does not simply accept

conventional wisdom• Looks at old problems in new and creative ways• Has a Pioneering spirit, willing and interested in

blazing a new trail in science & in one’s professional career