Clinician Perspectives on Eye-Related Content in Medical Curricula

Abstract

The medical school pre-clinical curriculum is vast and seemingly all encompassing. Though the first two years are geared towards learning what is necessary for Step 1 of boards, certain specialties often go overlooked in medical school curricula. One of the most underrepresented specialties is ophthalmology. Six providers across three specialties were interviewed regarding what they thought was currently being taught in medical school, what they think should be taught regarding the eyes, and some suggestions on how medical schools could improve their coverage of ophthalmology. These interviews were semi-structured and recorded using Zoom, they were transcribed, and thematic analysis determined themes among the providers’ answers. This study focused primarily on whether medical schools have allowed their curricula to overlook ophthalmology and how this can be mitigated. Though constant change of medical curricula is a good thing to keep material fresh, we have a responsibility as educators to ensure that all of the important material is being covered to help develop the most well-rounded physicians possible.