Reference Point

Medical librarian Bradley Long helps Alyssa Cowell locate the resources she needs for her first year studying in the College of Medicine. Medical resource Libraries playing primary role in College of Medicine by Dan Digmann Five medical students line the edges of a work table in the Central Michigan University College of Medicine Building's Opperman Learning Commons, which serves as the medical library. They're insightfully sharing diagnostic ideas. Hypotheses. Suggestions. Solutions. Each is part of the protocol in the evidence- and problem-based learning at the center of the new medical school curriculum. Nasir Hussain swiftly walks past his fellow medical students on his way into Bradley Long's office for a brief meeting. Long is the medical librarian who is readily available to assist students with their research and with locating credible resources. "Regardless of what anyone says, you have to have a good library for a medical school," says Hussain, who is one of the 64 students in the inaugural class of the CMU College of Medicine. "For my research and for my classes, what is offered here at CMU definitely exceeds my expectations." Long had worked with faculty members to develop the medical school's library collection and course curriculum. Classes began in early August, and students now are immersed in a specially designed, rigorous curriculum of team-based learning and problem solving that includes early clinical experiences. Third- and fourth-year students will be based in primary care practices, with many of them learning and serving in Saginaw at Covenant HealthCare or St. Mary's of Michigan. Because of the distance and the students' unpredictable schedules, Long is proud to say most of the collection of medical journals, books and research is available exclusively online. "As the students are working through their case studies, they come to me asking where they can find the materials they need," he says. "What's going to make me feel good at the end of the semester is if all the students do well on their exams, and we can look back and see how we helped them." Hussain, who originally is from Toronto, says he was drawn to CMU because of the innovative curriculum of its new medical school. Throughout this semester he – along with Long – has collaborated with three other students on the College of Medicine Student Advisory Committee to work with faculty in developing the collection for the second year of studies. "This was a good fit for me," Hussain says. "It's all about teamwork and collaboration, which is more active learning than passive learning." The CMU College of Medicine, the nation's 137th medical school, has a unique mission to educate physicians to care for the residents of Michigan's medically underserved cities and towns. Michigan is expected to have a shortage of 4,000 to 6,000 physicians by 2020. The CMU College of Medicine has affiliations with hospitals throughout the state to provide clinical training for students and, potentially, residency opportunities after graduation. 3

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