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Abstract
Background: The digital management of educational resources and information is becoming an important part of medical education.
Aims: At Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, two medical students sought to create a website for all medical students to act as each student's individual homepage.
Method: Using widely available software and database technology, a highly customized Web portal, known as the VMS Portal, was created for medical students. Access to course material, evaluations, academic information, and community assets were customized for individual users. Modular features were added over the course of a year in response to student requests, monitoring of usage habits, and solicitation of direct student feedback.
Results: During the first 742 days of the VMS Portal's release, there were 209,460 student login sessions (282 average daily). Of 348 medical students surveyed (71% response rate), 84% agreed or strongly agreed that ‘consolidated student resources made their lives easier’ and 82% agreed or strongly agreed that their needs were represented by having medical students design and create the VMS Portal.
Conclusion: In the VMS Portal project, medical students were uniquely positioned to help consolidate, integrate, and develop Web resources for peers. As other medical schools create and expand digital resources, the valuable input and perspective of medical students should be solicited.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Benjamin P. Rosenbaum
BENJAMIN ROSENBAUM is a fourth year medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Tristan L. Gorrindo
TRISTAN GORRINDO is a psychiatry resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Sanjay G. Patel
SANJAY PATEL is a fourth year medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Michael P. McTigue
MICHAEL MCTIGUE is a fourth year medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Scott M. Rodgers
SCOTT RODGERS is a psychiatrist by training. He is the Associate Dean for Medical Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Bonnie M. Miller
BONNIE MILLER is a general surgeon by training. She is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.