What we do:
1. PCCIA (small group student teaching with facilitator)
This involves teaching within small groups. Students are divided into groups with a facilitator. Topics can be either student driven or specifically determined by the given teaching block. Our educators are involved in this teaching in both first and second year.
It typically involves 3 hour sessions with 8-10 students for ~12 weeks. During each session the consultant attempts to facilitate the education and group learning for the students. 2. Clinical Methods
This is co-led by Dr. Tom Miller. It involves the education of the entire second year medical school class. It endeavours to teach an approach to the physical exam of the musculoskeletal system. It also teaches students a clinical and radiologic approach to the musculoskeletal system.
3. Medical School – First and Second Years Overview
The first and second years of the University of Western Medical School Curriculum are predominantly in class. It is broken down into blocks designed to teach each organ system. There are also blocks that address the general approach to a patient. Small group teaching is conducted in various venues, including regular PCCIA sessions.
Our involvement in the curriculum is in each of the four years. Our major involvement in the first year medical school curriculum is organizing, teaching and directing the musculoskeletal curriculum. This is a 6 week block in which the musculoskeletal system is taught. This involves teaching anatomy (didactic, small groups, dissection labs), pathology, exercise physiology and biomechanics. Clinical teaching includes the relevant aspects of Rheumatology, Orthopedics, Physiatry, Pediatrics and nerve injuries.
In the second year, we provide lectures within the Neurology block. These lectures involve physiatry related topics such as traumatic brain injury, stroke and spinal cord injury.
4. Clerkship and Fourth Year Elective
The third and fourth years of the medical school curriculum are clinical and mostly in hospital/clinic. This involves core rotations and electives. There is a “back to basics” fourth year course that brings the fourth year students back to the classroom to review important clinical and didactic material prior to graduation. In the third and fourth year, we work with selective and elective students for 2-4 week rotations. These include inpatient and outpatient experiences for the students. We also provide didactic lectures in the third year during the core medicine rotation on physiatry relevant topics ie. deconditioning, immobilization etc.
Visiting Student Electives: Please direct inquiries by email to Catherine Nabudere:
or visit the website of the Visiting Student Electives Office at The University of Western Ontario for application information http://www.schulich.uwo.ca/MEDICINE/UME/VSE/.
Our involvement within the undergraduate curriculum is a source of pride for us. We have received positive feedback from the students over the years and believe that our involvement in the undergraduate curriculum is partly responsible for the great cohort of students that enter PMR from UWO. It is our expectation that residents within our program will participate in the education of the medical students in the UWO undergraduate curriculum.
Goals
Our involvement in the undergraduate curriculum:
1. Education of students within the medical school
2. Innovate and develop curriculum within the medical school
3. Provide leadership within the medical school and amongst faculty
4. Provide exposure to physiatry for students
5. Foster interest in the physiatry among medical students
6. Develop interest among students in our residency program
// Undergraduate Studies Information (Pdf) //