COMPREHENSIVE ENV/OCC CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT

This project will increase the incorporation of principles of
environmental/occupational (E/O) health into the practice of medicine and
encourage students and residents to aspire to careers in this field. This
will be accomplished through educational innovations in the University of
Massachusetts Medical School's undergraduate and graduate curricula,
focused on the achievement of specific cognitive, attitudinal, and
behavioral objectives -- with a special emphasis on pediatric and
reproductive environmental hazards. Instructional strategies will include
didactic presentations, small-group case-based interactive sessions,
computer-aided instruction, simulated and live patients, field studies,
site visits, and extra-curricular activities. Extensive interdepartmental,
inter-institutional, and community resources will be utilized. A broad
range of E/O health research opportunities and role models will be readily
available to trainees at all levels. Institutionalization of these
innovations will be accomplished through faculty development and use of
the existing curriculum. Though our goals are ambitious, the unique,
diverse strengths of the institution and willing collaboration among
participating departments make the likelihood of success great. The
evaluation plan has both summative and formative aspects; the former will
include subjective and objective measures of achievement of the
educational objectives and the latter will include feedback in an
interactive, ongoing program design process. I. Undergraduate Medical Education - Educational objectives will he
achieved through ordered integration of E/O health concepts into the
required curriculum, enrichment of available electives, and development of
new research and extra-curricular opportunities. II. Graduate Medical Education - Specific objectives will be achieved by
exploiting existing opportunities in the primary care disciplines, with a
special focus on obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics. E/O curriculum
will be enhanced through case-based teaching, didactic presentations,
creative problem-solving exercises, elective opportunities, and joint
specialty training in occupational and environmental medicine (OEM). III. Development of E/O Research Opportunities - Environmental health
research opportunities for students and residents will be identified and
made available through collaboration with researchers at three other
University of Massachusetts campuses, one of which includes a School of
Public Health. Growing research initiatives in pediatric and reproductive
hazards will provide unique opportunities for students and residents to
engage in multidisciplinary research with a variety of notable mentors.