There’s nothing quite as effective in the world of education as learning from, with and amongst experts in their respective fields. Thus, EDU has developed a medical programme that put this notion into action –since it’s beginning in 2018.
EDU’s programme features experts who contribute to our students’ experiences on multiple fronts. They join EDU’s community as module leaders, lecturers and professors. These are expert physicians, clinicians and distinguished researchers who not only provide inspiring keynote addresses, but also offer support and guidance throughout a module. They also ensure that quality and learning targets are met, and assist on assessments and group assignments–to name a few.
EDU interviewed Dr. Meghmik Khachatoorian, Module Leader and Visiting Lecturer at EDU, based in Frankfurt am Main, to discuss about her contribution to furthering and reshaping medical education through her role at EDU.
Dr. Khachatoorian embodies many of the core values of EDU, and thus, our conversation with her reflected this thoroughly–from her experiences in medical school, to her hopes and vision of transforming the future of medical education.
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The opportunities of EDU’s medical programme in present day
EDU seeks to take advantage of the opportunity awarded by digitalization. EDU aims to implement innovative and modern learning methods to make it possible for students to learn in an engaging way wherever they are.
Dr. Kachatoorian considers the ample opportunities of digitalization for the future of medical education and recognizes these not only from her own medical studies, but also from her role as a digital educator:
“I remember back then, I had to carry my big medical books on my back, and still, I can feel their heaviness. So what is good in this century is digitalization: you can have access to different books, different online libraries.”
EDU’s programme covers factual medical knowledge, practical experience and develops strong communication and collaboration skills that can set students up for a successful future in healthcare. Every part of the curriculum of EDU’s programme is developed to provide students with a better understanding and preparation towards becoming excellent and well-rounded medical professionals.
It is due to this widened access that there is a faster exchange of information, making it so that “everyone from any corner of the world can have access to high quality (medical) information”, as Dr. Khachatoorian remarks. This is exactly what EDU aims to achieve.
For example, Dr. Khachatoorian explains: “As group assignments play a role in their final grade, students from the very beginning learn how to cooperate together and to work as a team. This later will help them in the hospital environment to not have conflicts with their coworkers.”
This has also been noted by our teaching hospitals, which report back that EDU’s students are better adjusted and stronger team players than the average medical student.
Every medical professional knows: There are other learnings, of equal importance to theory, that happen only once students are in contact with patients. Which is why EDU’s programme in medicine is designed to include clinical rotations as early as week 10.
Dr. Khachatoorian puts forward a specific angle of practical experience: “… when they (students) are from the first day in the hospital, they are getting to know different types of patients, and they are learning to deal with such patients.“
She explains how “once students are seeing a patient, they are learning about that disease much deeper, so they will never forget about that disease or that patient”, thus reinforcing the benefits of early clinical practice at EDU.
Lastly, EDU supports the student’s learning experience by offering a multi-facetted support system through the programme. Being part of a well-knit community of experts, professors, mentors and tutors is a core element of studying at EDU. As Dr. Khachatoorian mentions:
“EDU’s students are lucky they have such a support. Unfortunately, we didn’t have such a support at our university. We had just one or two days of consultations with our teachers (for questions regarding to exams).”
Contrary to her experience, EDU makes sure students are guided, mentored, and inspired through every step of their programme with individualized support.
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If Dr. Khachatoorian’s testimonial sparked your interest in our Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, make sure to attend our next Virtual Open Day to find out more about the programme.
EDU is continuously sharing perspectives from various experts about our programme, curriculum, and overall potential in the future of medical education. Stay up-to-date by following us on social media, or by signing up to our newsletter.
