EPC Biotechnology, Genetics and Ethics Subcommittee

CHARGE:

EPC Charge to Subcommittee:

… to assess the effect of the biotechnology revolution on medical school curricula, to make curricular recommendations that address the realms of basic science (genetics, etc.), clinical application, and ethics (genetic discrimination, etc.), as well as the law and humanities related to the issues, and to assure the vertical and horizontal integration of biotechnology issues across the four years of the curriculum.

Operationalized Charge:

Develop a set of curriculum recommendations for how genetics and topics related to genetics (ethics, counseling, etc.) should be presented to students. These recommendations should include a content outline and delivery and assessment methods.  Past and current genetics curricular efforts at SIUSOM should be reviewed, as well as those at other medical schools.  Recommendations from appropriate national, regional, and state groups should also be studied.

Recommendations developed by the group should be compiled into a report that includes:

• What students need to know regarding Biotechnology, Genetics and Ethics
• The curriculum activities necessary to ensure that students are exposed and learn to Biotechnology, Genetics and Ethics learning issues and clinical skills
• How student knowledge, attitudes and skills regarding genetics should be assessed
• The curriculum changes potentially necessary to ensure that students are exposed and learn to Biotechnology, Genetics and Ethics learning issues and clinical skills
• The faculty or group of faculty responsible for oversight of Genetics issues across the four-year curriculum
• A plan for faculty education to broaden faculty awareness of issues related to Genetics, to ensure that tutor guides for cases have appropriate Genetics learning issues, and to ensure that clinical faculty can assist students in making the connection between clinical activities and genetics issues

MEMBERS:

David Steward, MD (Chair)

Terri Cameron, MA (Staff)

Peter Borgia, PhD

Kimberly Espy, PhD

Jodi Huggenvik

David King, PhD

Margaret Kovach, PhD

Michael Schneider, PhD

MEETING NOTES:

• December 6, 2001, Meeting Notes

REFERENCES:

• Training Future Physicians About Weapons
  of Mass Destruction: Report of the Expert Panel on Bioterrorism Education for Medical Students
• Human Genome Project Fact Sheet
• Genomics and Its Impact on Medicine and Society: A 2001 Primer
• Primer on Molecular Genetics

• U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program:
  • http://www.doegenomes.org/
• Primer on Molecular Genetics
• Human Genome Project Fact Sheet (May 2001)
  • http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/info.shtml

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• EPC Biotechnology, Genetics and Ethics Subcommittee Recommendations to EPC (June 20, 2002)