Imagery's expanding role in medical education

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Shima Sepehr 1, Tabinda Hasan2 1-USM Malaysia;2- Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction –

The clinical encounter, an interactive and highly visual process begins quite early during undergraduate years where medical students learn to 'peer into the living human' through many different imaging modalities. These images form an essential component of the learning process in medical education.

References –

Zill , Elizabeth Duke , Bridget Keller , Casey Holliday and William Rhoten. Teaching medical gross anatomy with prosections and digital images: advantages and disadvantages.The FASEB Journal. 2007;21:2

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Materials and methods-

An extensive review of published medical literature was done to assess the role of radiology and imaging in current medical education. General and Meta search engines were used to scan journals, digital libraries, electronic websites and gray literature database. A total of 100 articles ranging from the year 2000-2010 were reviewed to derive inferences regarding the pedagogical role of imaging.

A computer suite such provides a learning environment in which a whole class of students can assess diagnostic images simultaneously and take part in interactive teaching sessions.

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Medical image-teaching systems.

Conclusion –Current reforms in modern medical curricula and the establishment of an increasing number of new medical schools coupled with prompt electronic availability of image systems further underlie the prospects of an expanding role for imaging in medical education. The increasing sophistication with which radiology can depict the human body means that imaging can make a pivotal contribution towards making the knowledge of the human body easier for tomorrow’s doctors to acquire and to retain. 

Results-

Available evidence suggests that recent advances in diagnostic imaging offer new ways to teach basic sciences to medical students, including functional and molecular imaging, multi planar imaging, virtual endoscopy and spectroscopy.

TeraRecon representative screen: the cross-sectionaland 3D model manipulation controls and windows.

Discussion –

The broad dissemination of 'view point dependent cut out models' and 'moving internal organ systems' , developed using free form projection technology promote students understanding of normal morphology, physiology and pathology using graphical expression and direct manipulation. Picture Archiving and Communication Systems; PACS allow transfer of diagnostic images to multiple sites, for educational as well as clinical purposes. Imaging not only improves intricate spatial relations knowledge and evaluation skills, but also provides a learning environment in which the whole class can simultaneously access the image database for interactive learning opportunity. The availability of medical images in the dissection room enhances the proficiency and efficiency of student's dissection time.

Creation of a sustainable intervention program requires paradigm shift in the practice of stake holders and priority populations through increased access to evidence based, community oriented information.

Sasha N Zill , Elizabeth Duke , Bridget Keller , Casey Holliday and William Rhoten. Teaching medical gross anatomy with prosections and digital images: advantages and disadvantages.The FASEB Journal. 2007;21:2