Education paper by Lee, Andrew
Optimizing the Lecture in Medical Education: Lecturing at the University of Pécs Medical School and Lessons for Hungarian and US Teachers Based on Medical Student Feedback
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
The University of Pécs Medical School includes an English language MD program (Hungary's oldest, established in 1984) and features 3,600 students from 66 countries study at the medical school. As with medical schools in the United States, Hungarian instructors are grappling with the best methods for encouraging student engagement, promoting retention of material, generating interest in their area of curricular study, and encouraging critical analysis (as well as the application of problem solving to other medical fields). Understanding the expectations and biases of current medical students (including Hungarian and international students studying in Hungary) can help assist instructors in designing course materials, aligning instructor efforts with student expectations, and creating a more robust learning environment.
The overlap in medical education goals in the Hungarian diaspora in America, all current American students and all current students in the Hungarian education system are surprisingly great, especially when one considers the commonalities of healthcare curriculum and the universality of health not knowing borders or races. Additionally, the expectations of students in medical studies may not be vastly different from students in other realms of study; the common goals of mastering core material and career development are not unique to a particular discipline.
The results of a student survey conducted in early 2018 at the University of Pécs medical school will be presented. Additionally, a brief summary of lessons learned from teaching at Pécs in 2017 and resulting suggestions regarding enhancing lectures will be added.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Andrew Lee studied biological sciences before continuing his graduate education in public health and medicine at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Washington, DC-area hospitals. Not a practicing medical doctor, he works as science instructor interested in improving how students learn to improve their retention of material, engage with new ideas and apply often abstract ideas to everyday life. He teaches college biology and microbiology (at Northern Virginia Community College) along with medical biology (involving molecular biology and clinical applications) and medical public health (at George Washington and Georgetown medical schools) in the Washington, DC area. His ongoing research, studying the impact of student observation of fine art as a predictive measure of student academic success is ongoing. New research, in conjunction with the University of Pécs Medical School Institute of Public Health, examines medical student mental health across four countries. ajlee@nvcc.edu