Medical education nationwide has a new focus on learning outcomes and the competencies of a graduating medical student. This approach opens the option for medical schools to move away from a time-based, required four years for medical education.

With a shortened degree option, some medical students might go into residencies after three years while others might choose to take a “deep dive” into projects or specialties, but not in the constrained format of medical education today. The New England Journal of Medicine recently posted a point/counterpoint on the issue of the three year medical school curriculum. See Point: A 3-Year M.D. — Accelerating Careers, Diminishing Debt and Counterpoint: The Three-Year Medical School - Change or Shortchange?

As we work to design the Bridges Curriculum for the 21st Century physician, we turn to our community to ask your thoughts on the three year curriculum debate. Should UCSF work to design a curriculum in which students could complete all required rotations (including subinternships) in three years? If so, what would be our main goals of that curriculum: the opportunity for students to complete their education earlier or to take deeper dives into more individualized content? What would have to be in place so that we are confident that our graduates are still expert? How might you envision compressing the existing curriculum to make this happen? We welcome your thoughts on these and any other questions about shortening training in medical school.

Challenge closed as of December 12, 2013. Thank you for your ideas!