A Faculty Development Program can result in an improvement of the quality and output in medical education, basic sciences and clinical research and patient care

Abstract

The Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology Dresden, Germany, was founded in 1993 after the reunification of Germany. In 1999, a reform process of medical education was started together with Harvard Medical International. The traditional teacher- and discipline-centred curriculum was displaced by a student-centred, interdisciplinary and integrative curriculum, which has been named Dresden Integrative Patient/Problem-Oriented Learning (DIPOL®). The reform process was accompanied and supported by a parallel-ongoing Faculty Development Program. In 2004, a Quality Management Program in medical education was implemented, and in 2005 medical education received DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 certification. Quality Management Program and DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 certification were/are unique for the 34 medical schools in Germany. The students play a very important strategic role in all processes. They are members in all committees like the Faculty Board, the Board of Study Affairs (with equal representation) and the ongoing audits in the Quality Management Program. The Faculty Development program, including a reform in medical education, the establishment of the Quality Management program and the certification, resulted in an improvement of the quality and output of medical education and was accompanied in an improvement of the quality and output of basic sciences and clinical research and interdisciplinary patient care.

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Peter Erich Dieter

PETER DIETER, PhD. is a Professor of Biochemistry and Dean of Medical Education (Basic Sciences Years) and Dean of international Relations, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, University of Technology Dresden, Germany. He graduated in biology and medical biochemistry. He teaches biology, bioengineering, medical biochemistry and chairs a Course in Leadership and Faculty Development in a Master Course for Medical Education. He is Vice-Chair of the German Society of Medical Education and a Member of the Association of German Medical Faculties, the Editorial Board of the German Journal for Medical Education, the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal and Accreditation Teams in Basic Medical Education.