This interactive focus session will explore the transformative journey undertaken to reimagine the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) curriculum at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). Grounded in Design Thinking, this initiative responds to the ever-evolving demands of healthcare and society. Participants will work through a facilitated Design Thinking activity to gain insights into the drivers necessitating this overhaul, the alignment of educational goals with the future of healthcare, and the innovative strategies employed to equip future physicians for the challenges ahead. The session will highlight the process undertaken, challenges faced, solutions developed, and the lessons learned throughout the process. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped to apply these insights to their own educational settings, fostering innovation in medical education globally. The session aims to not only share the successes of this initiative but also to engage participants in a dialogue that advances the discourse on educational reform, offering a blueprint for navigating the complexities of significant curricular change.

Agenda & Methods

• Introduction & Overview of Design Thinking (10 minutes): Overview of the session's objectives and the context for the curriculum reimagination at CSM.
• Part 1 - Identifying the Need for Change (30 minutes): Interactive exercise exploring the drivers of change, including stakeholder engagement, understanding of pain-points, and defining the problem. Through engagement in this activity, participants will identify similar drivers in their own contexts.
• Part 2 – The Overhaul (10 minutes): A deep dive into how Design Thinking was applied to the curriculum redesign. This segment will highlight the changes made at the CSM.
• Part 3 - Overcoming Barriers (20 minutes): Discussion of the challenges faced during the implementation of the new curriculum, including resistance to change, resource constraints, and pervasive narratives. Participants will reflect on the CSM’s experiences and share experiences and strategies in the larger group.
• Part 4 - Lessons Learned and Future Directions (10 minutes): A reflective discussion on the outcomes of the curriculum reimagination, focusing on lessons learned and the implications for future educational innovations. Participants will contribute to a collaborative action plan for applying these insights in their institutions.
• Q&A and Closing (10 minutes): Open floor for questions, followed by closing remarks and key takeaways.

This agenda is designed to be interactive, providing participants with practical tools and strategies to apply in their own educational settings.