Name
Clinical Anatomy Simulated Experience (CASE): Update on Longitudinal Integration of Anatomy, Clinical Reasoning, and Procedural Simulation
Authors
Sofia Lopiano, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Evan Cohen, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Christin Traba, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Mariana De Lorenzo, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Kei Wong, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Sophia Chen, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Jeremy Grachan, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Date & Time
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 11:30 AM - 11:44 AM
Presentation Category
Designing Holistic Programs: Growth-Oriented Assessment, Feedback, and Learner Development
Presentation Tag(s)
Student Presenter
Description
Purpose: CASE was developed to bridge preclerkship anatomy and basic science with early clinical application. Building on a preliminary pilot, this study evaluates longitudinal integration across five organ systems for preclerkship medical students. Methods: CASE sessions were embedded in preclerkship organ system blocks at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Each paired a clinical vignette and anatomy with procedural simulation: suturing for musculoskeletal/integumentary (MIS), venipuncture for cardiovascular, bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation and thoracic ultrasound for pulmonary, Foley catheter placement for genitourinary/endocrine (GU/E), and lumbar puncture for neurology. Students completed pre-and post-session knowledge assessments relevant to procedure and related anatomy, Likert-scale confidence surveys, and free-response feedback. Analyses used Mann-Whitney U, independent-samples t-tests, and Cohen’s d effect size. Results: Preliminary 2024-25 pilot data showed early improvements in knowledge, confidence, and perceived value for integrating anatomy clinically; the present longitudinal analysis expanded this to five organ-system activities. Post-session knowledge scores improved significantly from pre-session (p≤.007). Mean scores increased from 3.24 to 4.36 in MIS; 3.35 to 4.61 in cardiovascular; 3.26 to 4.27 in pulmonary; 3.67 to 3.96 in GU/E; 3.45 to 4.71 in neurology. Confidence increased after most activities, with largest improvements in procedural skills: suturing (d=1.27); code scenario support (d=0.59); BVM ventilation (d=1.37); Foley catheter placement (d=2.54); lumbar puncture support (d=1.94). Students most strongly endorsed CASE for integrating basic science and clinical knowledge (mean=4.40). Conclusion: CASE is a feasible model for longitudinally integrating clinical anatomy, procedural simulation, and case-based learning into preclerkship curriculum. Multisystem data suggests knowledge and confidence gains with favorable student perceptions.