Use of Integrated Metabolic Maps as a Framework for Teaching Biochemical Pathways in the Pre-clinical Medical Curriculum

• Published in: Medical science educator 2024-08, Vol.34 (4), p.815-821
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Kenny, Silveira, Jay R., Lounsbury, Karen M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Education; Medical Education; Original Research
• ISSN: 2156-8650; 2156-8650
• DOI: 10.1007/s40670-024-02073-1

Introduction The Larner College of Medicine has steadily transitioned to primarily active learning-based instruction. Although evaluations praise session formats, students often highlight difficulties in synthesizing preparatory materials to integrate biochemical pathways. A student/faculty collaboration led to the development of interactive metabolic maps that illustrate pathways and link to a broader framework of metabolism. Methods A review of the session materials identified relevant biochemical pathways, and for each pathway, we created a fillable visual diagram to highlight the interactions between all substrates, enzymes, and cofactors. Implementation of the metabolic maps began for first-year medical students in fall 2022. Evaluation data included standard student session evaluations (Likert scale and qualitative comments) and a survey specific to the metabolic maps. Results After implementing the maps, student ratings of biochemistry/metabolism session materials significantly improved (3.2 ± 1.04 to 4.3 ± 0.87, p