Table 1 Summary of UCSD School of Medicine pre-clinical curriculum before and after the transition to remote learning

Organ System Blocks

2–4 h of consecutive lectures with videocasts made available following the in-person lectures.

Final Exams taken via Examplify on personal computers on campus.

2–4 h of consecutive videocasted lectures, with all videocasts for the block uploaded in advance.

Final Exams taken via Examplify on personal computers at students’ homes.

Lab Classes (Anatomy, Histology, Ultrasound)

In-person labs with lab manuals posted online in advance of scheduled lab times.

All labs cancelled. Optional, live videoconference office hours offered. Manuals posted online in advance of corresponding lab office hours.

Practice of Medicine

4-h small group sessions every other week.

Groups of 8 students and 1 facilitator.

In-person practice of physical exam/doctoring skills and student encounters with patient actors.

4-h videocasted small group sessions every other week.

Groups of 8 students and 1 facilitator.

No physical exam learning. Videoconference student encounters with patient actors.

Problem Based Learning

2-h in-person small group sessions twice a week to review patient cases and present relevant topics.

Groups of 8 students and 1 facilitator.

2-h videoconference small group sessions twice a week to review patient cases and present relevant topics.

Groups of 8 students and 1 facilitator.

Ambulatory Care Apprenticeships (ACA)

Students paired with a primary care preceptor in San Diego to practice conducting patient histories, physical exams, and writing notes.

Cancelled.

Pre-clinical Electives

Range from clinical preceptorships to community service to lecture based electives.

Some cancelled, others moved to videoconference platforms.