Pandemic module added in MBBS teaching

Ludhiana: CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute at CMC Ludhiana conducted a one-day workshop on Integrated Teaching Leaning Practices on March 9, 2021.  The workshop trained the faculty of medical colleges of Punjab and adjoining states on integration of subjects wise teaching into integrated blocks. In conventional curriculum subject wise teaching is being done, however in new competency based  curriculum in various courses, like MBBS, subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, pediatrics, medicine will teach students together in integrated blocks in all the years including first year. Therefore, a surgeon will also be teaching in first year when students are taught anatomy on cadavers. Dr. William Bhatti, Director, CMC inaugurated the program along with Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, Principal, CMC. Dr. William informed that CMC is conducting these onsite training programs so that all important skills in teaching are being imparted to faculty of various medical colleges. Dr. Jeyaraj D Pandian, Principal welcome the participant doctors and added that CMC is doing series of onsite and online programs for the benefits of the teaching faculty of medical institutes and practising physicians. Dr. Dinesh Badyal, Professor & Convener, Department of Medical Education, and  Organising secretary of the workshop  intimated that the workshop will train doctors in integration as well as in self-directed learning skills and both are essential components of new undergraduate medical  curriculum in India and many other countries and in many courses. He added that one of the best examples of integration is human body and training the budding doctors in integrated blocks improves their lifelong learning. This onsite workshop included session on using role plays, hands on experience and real classroom experience. A pandemic module available on National medical Commission website is being taught in integrated manner to all MBBS students of all professional years stating from first year.  Dr. Monika Sharma, Vice principal (Research), added this is the first workshop in series of Worksop planned for in-depth training in core area of medical education for faculty of medical colleges. Dr Anjali Jain, Professor anatomy informed that next workshop Good Assessment Practices (GAP) will focus on designing better assessment strategies using various assessment stations and scenario based questions. The program faculty included Dr Dinesh Badyal, Dr. Anjali Jain, Dr. Monika Sharma, Dr. Bharti Uppal, Dr. Maria Thomas, and Dr. Ajay Kumar. CMC runs two higher educational faculty development centres that trains medical faculty from India and South East Asia countries. This includes NMC Nodal centre for faculty development and CMC’s collaboration with FAIMER (Foundation for advancement of international medical education & research), Philadelphia, USA represented by CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute.