The imperative to reduce and redistribute the basic sciences curriculum in undergraduate medical education is fraught with challenges. Schools engage in reduction of their basic sciences curriculum for different reasons, but in all instances schools must confront the question of whether students are adequately prepared for their new curriculum and whether they are adequately prepared for what follows. We will explore the challenges and opportunities of student preparation for USMLE Step 1, clerkships, and lifelong learning in reduced basic sciences curricula and present practical examples of approaches to identifying opportunities to support students from the moment they enter the preclerkship curriculum.

Third-party commercial learning resources have become integral to medical education, presenting both advantages and challenges. This session examines various commercial study tools used by medical students and analyzes their impact on learning outcomes, curriculum alignment, and overall medical education effectiveness.

The rapid integration of AI across health professions education presents both challenges and opportunities. This webinar outlines AAMC's collaborative approach through the International Advisory Committee on AI, which brings together global medical education organizations to develop frameworks and practical tools for AI implementation in areas like admissions and curriculum. The focus is on supporting diverse institutional needs while ensuring broad access to AI innovations in medical education.

The integration of basic and clinical sciences in clerkship remains a significant challenge. In this session, we will explore some strategies for integrating basic science into clerkships, and discuss concerns from faculty and the new generation of medical students navigating an era of dramatic changes.

When learners recognize the relevance of basic science to patient care, they are better equipped to apply scientific knowledge to clinical practice. We will discuss approaches to reinforcing fundamental concepts learned during clerkship and how this can lead to an improved mechanistic understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes and, ultimately, better patient outcomes.