Anatomy and Physiology in the University of Calgary's Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

The importance of basic science has been widely emphasized throughout medical education literature; however, the amount of time spent on teaching basic science has been significantly reduced to incorporate more clinical content and patient centred care. Faculty and students at the University of Calgary's medical school have expressed concern about the amount of basic science in the curriculum.;The results confirm a perceived high relevance of anatomy and physiology within the curriculum, as well as areas of weaknesses in basic science; namely the amount of anatomy content and the organization of basic science teaching. Addressing these areas may lead to improved student satisfaction and problem solving skills, and may in turn result in physicians who are better equipped when encountering difficult cases or unfamiliar situations.;This study used a cross-sectional survey design to determine the perceived basic science needs in the curriculum. The research employed a mixed methods approach to analyze the perspectives of key informants.