Cc Minutes 1-11-06

GEORGIA PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE MINUTES: Curriculum Committee Meeting DATE:January 11, 2006 TIME: 1:00 pm Roll Call: Bonnie Buxton, Ph.D.; Peter, Giglio, DO; David McWhorter, Ph.D. I.

CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Curriculum Committee was held on Wednesday, January 6, 2006 in Conference Room B. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Bonnie Buxton at 1:08 P.M.

II.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – December 20, 2005 A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as modified from the December 20, 2005 meeting. Motion passed.

III.

OLD BUSINESS Preclinical I and Medicine and Society Dr. Buxton reviews updates for Preclinical I and Medicine and Society syllabus and grading policy. Dr. Gantt suggests using Excel spreadsheet with corresponding colors to highlight course schedules regarding the syllabus. Dr. Gantt states he has a template that can be used as a standard format for the syllabus. Dr. Buxton continues discussion regarding the grading policy. Dr. Matayoshi distributed copies of syllabus course descriptions, goals and objectives, and grading policy for the committee to review. Dr. Matayoshi explains the policy specifies three questions per lecture, the number lectures and quizzes, and one lab quiz which are constructed as 2 points per question with total quiz points not exceeding 20 percent. Dr. Matayoshi states after points are quantified, faculty will use percentages to create a class average then adjust appropriately depending on grading curve i.e. 80% plus or minus 2%. Dr. Matayoshi adds grades will be adjusted to reflect the 10 point increase and passing will be 70 and above. Dr. Matayoshi asks for clarification on how grades will be reported. Dr. Buxton states grades are reported as a letter grade. Dr. Watson states grades will be reported as both letter and numerical value.

Curriculum Committee Minutes January 11, 2006 Page 2 Dr. Gantt focuses on goals and objectives as mandated by Dr. Evans that each lecture specify learning objectives to include a summary presentation. Dr. Buxton adds that this is also included in the formal letter that is sent to guest lectures to clarify course teaching expectations. Dr. McWhorter asks for clarification on the grading policy. Committee discusses further. Committee agrees that grading policy should be consistent and exact. Committee agrees that remedial courses will be rated by a second instructor to ensure fairness of grading score. Dr. Matayoshi suggests approving testing procedures for stated courses for current meeting and the DO’s construct a standard competency based policy to approve separately. A motion was made and seconded to approve testing procedures for specific courses. Dr. Buxton adds that the syllabus for Preclinical II is near completion. Dr. Buxton states will need to add the clinical lecturers in the course outline and Drs. Giglio and Craver are currently working on this. Dr. Buxton stated that there will not be a summary of discussion from December 20, 2005 previous meeting since there were no additional items to add to initial discussion. III.

NEW BUSINESS Update on SPOM student evaluations Dr. Buxton opens discussion for updates regarding the SPOM student evaluations. Dr. Watson states the student evaluations have been posted and about 15 to 20 percent of students have responded. Dr. Watson adds a reminder was recently sent to students to complete the evaluations. Dr. Evans states this is strictly a voluntary process. Dr. Buxton inquires about a final timeframe for evaluations. Dr. McWhorter states him and Dr. Gantt can meet later then give committee an instructor report until the completion of evaluations. Dr. Buxton asks, “Who will be responsible for sending a second reminder via email?” Dr. Gantt states second email has been sent. Dr. Giglio inquires whether reminders are sent periodically. Dr. Watson states he inquired recently through Esther and was told that students were concerned about anonymity. Dr. Evans states an announcement can be sent to reiterate responses to evaluations are anonymous. Committee concurs and this can be done before lectures.

Curriculum Committee Minutes January 11, 2006 Page 3 Dr. Evans emphasizes need to convey to students that responses are important and will make changes based on input as deemed appropriate. Committee discusses further. Dr. Evans suggests a timeline of 70 percent for responses. Dr. Buxton states maybe a deadline would be more appropriate. Dr. Evans states a timeline is needed for the necessary data to discuss options for improving courses for the following year. Proposed calendar for year 2 courses Dr. Buxton reviews the proposed calendar for second year courses. Dr. Buxton asks committee for input on allocated times for courses. Dr. Buxton states PCOM included the Hematology and Oncology courses to the cardiovascular course. Dr. Buxton highlights the Endo/Neuro/Psych courses excludes the Basic Science which was included in the Preclinical I schedule. Dr. Buxton adds she used this setup to estimate the total hours. Dr. Buxton states added Dermatology to the specialties since this course was initially taught the same time as Endo/Neuro/Psych. Dr. Buxton suggests the Preclinical Review versus Board Review since this is required course. Dr. Evans states a formal Board Review is mandatory. Dr. Gantt expresses concern for grading score. Dr. Evans clarifies the grading will be the Level I score. Dr. Evans states students must pass Level I before beginning the clerkship program. Dr. Evans adds attendance will be enforced. Committee continues to discuss. Dr. McWhorter inquires about the duration for study time. Dr. Evan explains about four to five hours a day for about a week. Dr. Evan states the review is focused on key common areas tested. Dr. Craver asks whether the second year course block is defined before or after. Dr. Evans states this is defined after. Committee discusses. Dr. McWhorter suggests utilizing other sources for reviewing for the Boards rather than relying on the COMLEX Board study guides. Dr. McWhorter adds faculty can invite guest lecturer from the Boards to give overview on the exam for a week then allow students to prepare afterwards before the final Board exam. Dr. Buxton states can use years 1 and 2 as a test to gauge whether or not the initial proposed Board reviews is sufficient and can adjust to improve the process for reviewing for Board exam. Dr. Giglio asks about the CPR course Dr. Buxton previously suggested.

Curriculum Committee Minutes January 11, 2006 Page 4 Dr. Evans gives an overview of the proposed schedule for the Board review. Committee discusses options for scheduling the Board review. Dr. Craver asks if a student fails the BLS/ACLS course on the first attempt whether this will affect starting clinical rotations. Dr. Evans states this should not affect students beginning rotations. Dr. Gantt asks for clarification regarding final exam dates. Dr. Buxton states the final for the specialties is scheduled May 11th and recognizes will have to adjust conflicts in the schedule. Committee continues to discuss. Dr. Evans states the estimated time schedule as listed: Proposed Schedule May 11 Courses M-Th 15-18 F-T 19-23

Final Exam-Specialty

May May

COMLEX Exam BLS/ACLS

24 30-June 2

Board Review Study

Committee states will have to continue working on proposed schedule. Dr. Craver states can do a shelf test after the final exams. Committee concurs with suggested shelf test and continues to discuss. Dr. Evans asks group if purchasing the (High Yield) Most Commons series for Anatomy and Pharmacology would be appropriate. Committee agrees this would be beneficial. Dr. Buxton continues reviewing calendar schedule for year 2. Dr. Buxton gives explanation of chart in detail. Dr. Buxton states the lengths in days are the actual days students are in class and does not include exam days. Dr. Buxton states there are two exams per course i.e. Midterm, final and exams will be administered on a Monday with the duration of the day unscheduled allowing extra study time for students. Dr. Buxton adds working with Dr. Craver on proposed calendar and will be adjusted to cover specialty course hours taught. Committee discusses. Dr. Evans adds was not able to secure a pathologist for full-time lectures and will work with Dr. Buxton to get this position filled. Dr. Buxton asks committee to consider whether some of the specialty courses can follow PCOM’s established calendar for number of lectures taught, for example, if Endo/Neuro/Psych

Curriculum Committee Minutes January 11, 2006 Page 5 can be taught in a 104 lectures. Committee discusses further. Dr. Evans states he and Dr. Craver will handle working on allocating number of hours for clinical courses taught. Dr. Buxton steers committee in discussion of course directors/co-directors to oversee clinical and specialty courses for year 2. Dr. Watson inquires about roles for course director and co-director for clinical courses. Dr. Buxton gives a brief description regarding responsibilities for course director. Dr. McWhorter asks if this is voluntary and whether Dr. Evans is the deciding factor for roles. Dr. Buxton clarifies that this is voluntary on a temporary basis. Dr. Buxton states course director as listed: Course Cardiovascular Renal Pulmonary Repro/Genitourinary The Specialties Preclinical Review GI Endo/Neuro/Psych

Course Director Brian Matayoshi Bonnie Buxton Peter Giglio, Gary Watson David Gantt, David McWhorter Mary Owen (tentative) Bonnie Buxton, PhD

Dr. Evans states will have to choose a faculty from the medical community for clinical course director full-time and should not rely on Dr. Craver to handle the course director position for all clinical courses on a permanent basis. Dr. Evans adds he has a list of candidates to recruit for the course director position. Dr. Craver will handle the co-director role for all courses for the second year-first term. Committee concurs with this initial plan. IV.

Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:02 P.M. Curriculum meeting will be held on January 25, 2006. Respectfully submitted: Bonnie Buxton, Ph.D. Curriculum Committee Chairperson

LJ