Clinical Reasoning

Clinical reasoning is one of nine competencies at the foundation of the YSM curriculum and is embedded throughout the curriculum from basic science courses to clinical rotations. Clinical Reasoning workshops are interspersed across the four-year curriculum. The main objective of the clinical reasoning curriculum is to train deliberate, reflective, and collaborative clinicians who practice hypothesis-driven data collection, synthesize concise problem representations, prioritize nuanced differential diagnoses, and employ patient-centered management plans.

Concepts are taught through a variety of interactive and engaging methods. Students engage in one-on-one case discussions with instructors where they receive personalized observation and feedback about their reasoning skills.

In small group workshops, students apply clinical reasoning strategies in teams as they work through cases guided by instructors. In other sessions, students explore educational and clinical benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in clinical decision support.

Gamification and other novel teaching strategies are utilized to keep class fun and engaging. For example, first year students participate in a Family Feud diagnostic reasoning game show. Students have not only embraced the clinical reasoning experience but have also returned as senior student facilitators and participants in an extra-curricular clinical reasoning lunchtime series.