Citations

Millennial students born between 1980 and 1999 are currently the most prevalent generation in medical schools. Understanding this generation of inspiring yet challenging learners is key to satisfying instructional interaction. Effective strategies for teaching millennial learners can be summarized with 5 R's: ensuring a relaxed learning environment, building rapport with learners, highlighting the relevance and rationale of learning objectives and assessments, and implementing research‐based educational methods. These strategies are exemplified by anatomists who relate (through platforms that encourage team‐based learning in a relaxed environment), resonate (by highlighting the relevance and rationale of basic science learning objectives and feedback strategies), and innovate (by adopting cutting edge, research‐proven technologies) within their curricula. Anatomists lead the way in effectively engaging, teaching and evaluating Millennial medical students in the 21st century. Broad application of these principles by other medical educators can further enhance Millennial education. Clin. Anat., 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A “perineal” branch of the sciatic nerve has been visualized during surgery, but there is currently no description of this nerve branch in the literature. Our study investigates the presence and frequency of occurrence of perineal innervation by the sciatic nerve and characterizes its anatomy in the posterior thigh. Fifteen cadavers were obtained for dissection. Descriptive results were recorded and analyzed statistically. Twenty‐one sciatic nerves were adequately anatomically preserved. Six sciatic nerves contained a perineal branch. Five sciatic nerves had a branch contributing to the perineal branch of the posterior femoral cutaneous (PFC) nerve. In specimens with adequate anatomical preservation, the perineal branch of the sciatic nerve passed posterior to the ischial tuberosity in three specimens and posterior to the conjoint tendon of the long head of biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles (conjoint tendon) in one. In specimens in which the perineal branch of the PFC nerve received a contribution from the sciatic nerve, the branch passed posterior to the sacrotuberous ligament in one case and posterior to the conjoint tendon in three. Unilateral nerve anatomy was found to be a poor predictor of contralateral anatomy (Cohen's kappa = 0.06). Our study demonstrates for the first time the presence and frequency of occurrence of the perineal branch of the sciatic nerve and a sciatic contribution to the perineal branch of the PFC nerve. Clinicians should be cognizant of this nerve and its varying anatomy so their practice is better informed. Clin. Anat. 31:357–363, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

With advancements in surgical techniques, patients have experienced improvements in health and recovery outcomes. However, about 87% of laparoscopic surgeons [1] and an increasing number of surveyed allied health professionals [2, 3] report musculoskeletal symptoms. Medical practitioners and human factors engineers have highlighted the “hostile” and “dangerous” operating room (OR) environment [1, 4, 5]. With increasing technology and surgical case complexity, physical demands for surgical team members will continue to increase due to circumstances such as technology restricting posture, taking up working space and more team members working around smaller surgical incisions [6]. There is widespread concern that these medical professionals’ work is unsustainable for safe and healthy patients and surgical team members. Surgical team members can benefit from posture improvement during surgery; however, direct postural feedback may be difficult during their work due to the high visual and auditory stimuli during surgery. The tactile modality has been recently explored as a method to provide additional information without interfering with cognitive resources dedicated to visual and auditory pathways [7]. Tactile devices have successfully been implemented in high-stress environments, e.g., military, healthcare, and rehabilitation with a resulting improvement in performance [8–11]. Vibrotactile feedback has been specifically implemented in the healthcare field for improved performance by 31–75% anesthesiologists during simulated tasks [10]. Additionally, it has contributed to improved postural control in rehabilitation patients[11]. Despite success in other application areas, the potential of tactile devices for improving healthcare workers’ safety and performance remains unexplored. This study is a part of a larger project to design a wearable device that provides realtime vibrotactile feedback for preventing fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders for healthcare workers in the workplace. This specific aim of this study is to measure distraction, frustration, and performance during a surgical simulation task performed with and without vibrotactile feedback. This is a test of initial feasibility of vibrotactile feedback for use in training proper ergonomics for surgical team members. The researchers hypothesize that there will be some distraction with the vibrotactile feedback wearable but no frustration or performance degradation during the basic simulation task.

Quality of healthcare delivery is dependent on collaboration between professional disciplines. Integrating opportunities for interprofessional learning in health science education programs prepares future clinicians to function as effective members of a multi‐disciplinary care team. This study aimed to create a modified team‐based learning (TBL) environment utilizing ultrasound technology during an interprofessional learning activity to enhance musculoskeletal anatomy knowledge of first year medical (MD) and physical therapy (PT) students. An ultrasound demonstration of structures of the upper limb was incorporated into the gross anatomy courses for first‐year MD (n = 53) and PT (n = 28) students. Immediately before the learning experience, all students took an individual readiness assurance test (iRAT) based on clinical concepts regarding the assigned study material. Students observed while a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician demonstrated the use of ultrasound as a diagnostic and procedural tool for the shoulder and elbow. Following the demonstration, students worked within interprofessional teams (n = 14 teams, 5–6 students per team) to review the related anatomy on dissected specimens. At the end of the session, students worked within interprofessional teams to complete a collaborative clinical case‐based multiple choice post‐test. Team scores were compared to the mean individual score within each team with the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Students scored higher on the collaborative post‐test (95.2 ±10.2%) than on the iRAT (66.1 ± 13.9% for MD students and 76.2 ±14.2% for PT students, P < 0.0001). Results suggest that this interprofessional team activity facilitated an improved understanding and clinical application of anatomy. Anat Sci Educ 11: 94–99. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.

Recent publications in the dermatologic surgery literature have sparked a re‐emergence of interest in anatomy relevant for the Mohs surgeon necessitating a re‐visit of under‐appreciated concepts, regarding the topography of the face and its visceral contents from a surgically relevant perspective. This paper presents a pre‐operative review and a conceptual framework for intra‐operative planning for Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction. The key concepts presented are based on a series of (1) reviews regarding clinically significant points aimed at improving outcomes for reconstructive surgery, (2) anatomical dissections of fresh frozen cadavers, and (3) surgical experience of the authors. Basic anatomical concepts have been assimilated, surgically evaluated and re‐directed toward the dermatologic surgeon in the hope that improved anatomic competence will reduce surgical hesitance. Clin. Anat. 29:237–246, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In the anatomy laboratory, skill remains a critical component to unlocking the true value of learning from cadaveric dissection. However, there is little if any room for provision of instruction in proper dissection technique. We describe how near‐peer instructors designed a supplemental learning activity to enhance the dissection experience for first‐year medical students. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this curriculum in improving participants' understanding of dissection technique and its impact on perceived challenges associated with the anatomy course. Curriculum was designed under faculty guidance and included didactic sessions, low‐fidelity models, dissection, student presentations, and clinical correlations. Participants' (n = 13) knowledge of basic dissection techniques and concepts were assessed before the selective, and both participants' and nonparticipants' (n = 39) knowledge was assessed at the end of week one and week seven of the anatomy course. Scores were compared using repeated measures ANOVA followed by post hoc t‐tests. Thirteen deidentified reflective essays were reviewed by four independent reviewers for themes that aligned with learning objectives. Participants in the selective course scored higher on assessment of dissection techniques and concepts one week after the selective compared to both nonparticipants and their own baseline scores before the selective. Analysis of student reflections resulted in four themes: confidence with dissection skill, sharing resources and transfer of knowledge, learning environment, and psychological impact of perceived challenges of the anatomy course. Near‐peer driven supplemental exercises are effective in facilitating dissection skills. This dissection primer increases student confidence and alleviates apprehension associated with anatomy courses. Clin. Anat. 28:985–993, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.