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Key Functions

The key functions of the department are identified and described below. It includes patient-centered education and assessment of clinical skills, data analysis, faculty development, and curriculum development and assessment. For health care providers wishing to enhance their academic careers, medical education provides clinical rotation experience in academic medicine and a Master of Science degree in Medical Education.

Clinical skills training courses involve the use of standardized patients, medical simulation, clinical skills examinations, OSCEs, and preparation for the COMLEX 2 PE. Programs are available to train physicians, residents, students, and other health care professionals in patient interactions and clinical skills.

Dr. Heather McCarthy serves as the executive medical director for NSU clinical skills learning center. Clinical disorders and diseases are portrayed by a standardized patient while training and assessment in physician-patient interactions are highlighted. The program utilizes community members to serve as standardized patients in our training program. If you are interested in participating as a standardized patient, please contact Carmen Hernandez at (954) 262-1686 for an application or click forms to complete the application online.

The Medical Simulation Clinic resembles a hospital emergency room. We use robotic manikins and task trainers to teach various procedures and patient care to health care providers. We organize training for health professionals that duplicate the hospital settings where patient care is provided. If you are interested in receiving more information about our Medical Simulation Clinic or participating in a training program, please contact Marysel Sierra at (954) 262-1528.

Educational Technologies

These learning technologies involve the development of educational technology in the curriculum, especially in the use of a curriculum management database, student management and course management systems. These emerging medical education technologies are heavily involved in medical simulation training for health professionals as well as the NSU Virtual Clinic and Art Observation in Second Life, including Game-based learning. This unit is available to assist in training and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies. Contact Elizabeth Oviawe by calling 954-262-1414 with any question.

Data analysis provides data support for admissions, student matriculation and progression, curriculum, course evaluation, and clinical education clerkship evaluations. Academic support for grading is provided for several courses within the curriculum as well as attendance reporting. Student data for clinical skills performance assessment are also available. The creation and maintenance of various databases within the college and making available up-to-date information on students and alumni is also provided. The unit provides research support for projects and grants. The director, Evelyn Walker, as well as Elizabeth Oviawe and Sadio Hazel, are available to assist you with any questions by calling (954) 262-4390.

Maintaining a cutting-edge educational program requires a continuous learning environment for administrators as well as faculty and staff members. Whether providing live or online instruction in educational methods, learning new technology tools, sharing knowledge about databases, or developing courses, Sherrica Taylor, Ph.D., director of faculty development, is just a phone call away at (954) 262-1140. You are welcome to participate in any of our grand rounds lunch-and-learn programs, which allow faculty members to present medical knowledge on various topics within their fields. Our innovative, interprofessional grand rounds program is also a favorite of Health Professions Division personnel who present aspects of diseases from the views of the different professions. In 2013, the Enhancing Teaching Activities (ETA) program was implemented. This program focuses primarily on enhancement of teaching skills so faculty are better prepared to keep pace with the changing learning environments and technology needed to educate the next generation of health professionals.  In addition, the Faculty Wellness Series and Neuro Immune Institute Research Seminars are being offered.  The wellness series help faculty create a life of balance while the research seminars attract renowned faculty to present cutting-edge research related to human health and disease.  To view a list of current faculty development program offerings, please click here

To enhance and develop skills of students and faculty, several programs are available.  Students, who wish to consider a career in academic medicine, can take an Academic Rotation elective as a fourth year student which provides hands-on training in medical education. Finally, for healthcare professionals wishing to enhance teaching skills and share hands-on knowledge of their profession, a Master of Science degree in Medical Education is available.  Please contact the department to learn more about either of these programs.

This area of medical education provides oversight of the NSU-COM curriculum using a curriculum database which identifies what, where, and when content is taught within the curriculum. It also provides a forum to compare curriculums amongst other medical schools and stay abreast of the ever-changing needs of medical education. By participating in various forums, curriculum feedback and evaluation is received, which allows for continuous quality improvement of our curriculum. Our reputation for providing a "cutting-edge medical education" is a source of great pride.

This area also serves as academic support of the curriculum by providing numerous academic assistance programs for students, faculty support, course support, and exam analysis. Support for students needing assistance in study and test-taking skills or preparation for the COMLEX 1, 2 CE, and 2 PE is also available. Dr. Jennifer Jordan, assistant dean for medical education, has an open-door policy and welcomes your input and participation in the medical education curriculum. You may contact her via her assistant, Chania Vargas, at (954) 262-1716.

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