FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR PHYSIOLOGISTS IN AN INTEGRATED PBL CURRICULUM

Integration is defined as the organization of teaching matter to interrelate or unify the subjects which are frequently taught in separate academic courses or departments .Undergraduate Medical curricula worldwide have been revised during the past few decades with attempts to introduce Integrated curricula in Medical schools. The integration of basic science subjects likePhysiology with other disciplines both horizontally and vertically makes learning more meaningful and clinically relevant as in PBL curriculum. This integration however is not without any adverse consequences which may affect its selection as a discipline for specialization. There is a lot of literature reporting the specialty choices of undergraduate medical students and the factors influencing the choices. Basic clinical sciences including Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry have been the lowest in the preference list for specialization. This may have implication in future with regards to the availability of specialists in basic clinical sciences. This paper put forwards the author's views regarding the status of basic science subjects in an Integrated Medical curriculum, how it affects the future prospects of specialization and the need to take corrective steps to address the impending threat.