Innovation in Medical Student Education: Implementing Clerkships in 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, and Medical Device Development

Med Sci Educ. 2024 Aug 2;34(6):1263-1265. doi: 10.1007/s40670-024-02132-7. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Medical devices, 3D printing, and virtual reality are increasingly integral components of medical practice to improve patient outcomes. Physicians engage directly with clinical challenges but may need more training to develop innovations that prioritize patient-centered design. To bridge the gap, hands-on clerkships were implemented to develop foundational skills related to emerging medical technologies.

Keywords: 3D printing; Curriculum; Engineering; Innovation; Medical devices; Medical education; Medical students; Transdisciplinary education; Virtual reality.