Embedding Digital Capabilities in the Curriculum of a New Medical School

New medical school, a joint venture between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. Started in Sept 2020 and has recruited 2 cohorts, 217 students on an MBBS programme. The programme uses an integrated and spiral curriculum which is mapped to the General Medical Council (GMC).

• A systematic and collaborative approach is used in embedding digital capabilities through the Health innovation and Scholarship and scientific enquiry themes of the curriculum

• An Academic Lead supported by professional services colleagues such as learning technologists, IT support, academic skills developers and librarians are the team that embed the capabilities right from the start.

• A number of characteristics were identified for the future digitally- enabled doctor- including,

o Competent, confident and capable in the use of digital in the workplace in order to be able to provide that best care (Health Education England, 2018)

o “Positive attitude towards technology and innovation and its potential to improve care and outcomes” (Health Education England, 2018)

o Good understanding of health and clinical informatics and its different applications

o Good understanding of digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics (Topol, 2019)

o Digital leader (Health Education England, 2019) who behaves professionally in a digital workplace

o Engages in research, funding opportunities and entrepreneurship.

• This list of competencies were mapped to the curriculum and gaps such as AI, Robotics, Smartphone apps, health informatics were not found to be present in the current curriculum.

• Student capability development is tracked through a questionnaire at various points of their student journey.

• There are plans to enhance the offer further by map the digital capabilities to the Y3, Y4 and Y5 curriculum and the GMC Generic Professional Capabilities Framework, GMC Learning Outcomes and MLA content map