FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine launched a new curriculum with the Class of 2027. The StepUp Curriculum builds on the college’s already successful model designed to address the changing health care landscape and prepare students to be well-rounded physicians of the future.
The new program of studies is intended to be more integrated, experiential and clinically immersive — as well as grounded in best practices for adult learning. The ultimate goal is to nurture self-directed lifelong learners.
“We are building on a strong foundation. Our curriculum has done very well,” says Dr. Juan Cendan, dean of the College of Medicine. “[But] we are continuously looking for ways to improve.”
Led by Dr. Rebecca Toonkel, associate dean of curriculum and medical education, the college examined every course syllabus, spoke to professors, held town halls to hear from students and reviewed peer institutions. Administrators looked for redundancies that could be eliminated, order and timing of learning objectives, and areas in the curriculum the community felt could be approached differently.
The result: a medical school experience that prioritizes student well-being and helps them make connections across the curriculum.
Students will continue to work in interprofessional teams to provide household-based care throughout the South Florida community as part of the college’s signature Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP program. They will also continue to practice clinical skills in a controlled environment (before treating patients) at the college’s state-of-the-art Albert and Debbie Tano Medical Simulation Center.
“We believe this hands-on approach will better prepare our students for their clinical rotations and, ultimately, for their careers as physicians.”
- Dr. Rebecca Toonkel
Associate Dean of Curriculum and Medical Education
In addition, the college is building a new 7,000-square-foot anatomy and 3D printing lab where students will engage in hands-on dissection, prosection and simulated learning supported by the latest developments in anatomy teaching. The facility is slated for completion in the Fall of 2024 and will accommodate 17 cadavers
Specifically, more exposure to cadavers, students say, is a major improvement that they feel will make them more confident and competitive as they look at residency programs.
“Medicine is a science but also an art,” says medical student Christina Taragjini, Class of 2026. “There’s a certain appreciation you have for the human body that will be better integrated into the new curriculum with more experience with cadavers.”
Dean Cendan says student input was critical. “We wanted to engage students at every level. We wanted to minimize the shock of entering med school —it doesn’t have to be a pressure cooker.”
“It’s great to see leadership taking action based on student feedback,” says Monica Reyes ’18, President of the Class of 2023. “We were involved early on, participating in curriculum meetings.”
Toonkel says, “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure our students achieve competency without sacrificing wellness!”