Abstract
Background
Despite the enormous burden and public health impact, addiction continues to be one of the most under-treated chronic diseases primarily because of the lack of adequately trained work force of medical providers. To address this issue, medical schools should greatly expand education on addiction.
Methods
The six-step Kern model of curriculum development was used as a framework to create an addiction curriculum which includes didactic activities, workshop exercises, practice-based learning activities, clinical simulations, and clinical experiences.
Results
The authors and other members of the addiction thread committee conducted a comprehensive needs assessment, developed curriculum goals and objectives, and worked with course and clerkship directors to develop and enhance educational strategies and implement a longitudinal curricular thread woven across all four years of medical school curriculum.
Conclusion
Development and implementation of a comprehensive addiction curriculum is feasible, and this model could lay the ground work for implementation at other institutions.
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