A Bold Vision for Tomorrow's Clinicians
The Saint Louis University School of Medicine, under the leadership of Dean Christine Jacobs, M.D., has established a bold path for transformative advancement in medical education.
Remaining steadfast to its five-year strategic vision, the school emphasizes four priorities for investment: The recruitment and support of students whose diversity and background connect with the St. Louis community, the development of exceptional learning environments, the expansion of medical research and the recruitment and retention of excellent leadership.
“One of the most exciting things about our past, present, and future is our ongoing commitment to building on the legacy of training excellent clinicians,” Jacobs said. “We’re moving into the modern age, teaching our learners classic principles in a new way.”
Accelerating Access to Medical Education
Given its renown for graduating excellent clinicians, SLU School of Medicine is tasked with drawing top-tier students from the local region and beyond. Its efforts are directed toward attracting students who align with its mission and values and have a strong affinity for the community it serves. To achieve this goal, the school is focused on establishing student Opportunity Scholarships that increase access to medical education.
These scholarships are an essential investment in underserved and economically disadvantaged students. They enrich the medical school experience — bringing together students with different perspectives and life experiences. The Opportunity Scholarships lift the burden and allow medical students to focus on their training rather than financial stress.
“It is important for us to train future physicians who are cognizant of and reflect the community that we live in,” Jacobs said. “Medical education is not just learning about diagnosis and treatment. It’s about understanding the world around us and how we can best help our people to be healthy.”
“One of the most exciting things about our past, present, and future is our ongoing commitment to building on the legacy of training excellent clinicians," Jacobs said.
Shared Experiences and a Sense of Belonging
A holistic approach to medical education requires a balance between textbook and experiential learning. Collaborative learning environments are imperative for students’ wellness, clinical experiences, and interprofessional development. The school has condensed its preclinical curriculum to 18 months to increase hands-on opportunities and apply what is learned through real-life clinical experiences.
The curriculum update also opens the door for students to translate their knowledge into clinical work alongside classmates and peers in nursing and other allied health professionals.
Newly-established community spaces give students a home where they are able to interact through experiential learning, develop as students and form lasting connections for their future careers. Community spaces, such as the Lo Family 360 classroom and the Wellness Center, have facilitated deep connections among students and faculty and enhanced active, collaborative learning. These physical gifts funded by generous donors transform how students learn, study, and practice medicine.
“This is not a time where we can educate our learners by having them sit in a dark amphitheater and listen to a professor,” Jacobs said. “Our learners must be engaged and interactive in order to become inquisitive and thoughtful clinicians. These spaces are a wonderful start, but we have much work ahead to create the best physical learning environment for our students.”
Innovative Researchers and Medical Leaders
SLU School of Medicine strives to be at the forefront of academic medicine. Through its steady research growth, it has developed innovative approaches in research excellence in basic, clinical and translational science.
As the school elevates its status as a preeminent research institution, it will recruit visionary department chairs and faculty to broaden its research interests and academic success. Adding endowed positions will allow the school to advance initiatives in research and clinical care, and inspire new approaches to medical education.
The school launched the Center for Educator Development, Advancement, and Research (CEDAR) in September 2023 to develop faculty leadership in medical education. CEDAR champions the use of evidence-based teaching and learning practices, develops faculty as educators across the school and supports collaborative educational leadership. Its establishment reflects the school’s dedication to be a home for medical education excellence.
“We have significant scholarship and research that attracts faculty who have an academic mindset,” Jacobs said. “We value teaching, which is why we started CEDAR to help train our medical educators to be as effective as possible for our students.”
Transforming the Future Begins Now
SLU School of Medicine maintains its commitment to educating and training the highest-caliber clinicians of the future. With an innovative curriculum, dedicated community spaces, and forward-thinking leaders, the years ahead appear bright.
However, a vision without action is just a dream, so the school is taking another tangible step forward. A comprehensive campaign for resourcing the school’s vision will soon be shared with the community.