BiomedicineWorks is an innovative 5-year Phase I and II SEPA project that introduces evidence-based medicine (EBM) tools to explore and understand the importance of published clinical trials. Using real physicians in filmed hospital settings with scripted patient encounters, this project will provide high school students and teachers with an understanding of how doctors learn to best care for their patients through the analysis of clinical trials.

Goals:

• engage student interest in clinical trials through filmed hospital patient encounters
• explore real clinical trials using mathematics (EBM tools) and higher-level critical thinking
• promote understanding of the importance of clinical trials research in medical practice
• field-test an inquiry-based science curriculum for national dissemination

BiomedicineWorks will use the structured approach to teaching evidence-based medicine known as the “5 As.” These align with grades 9-12 National Science Education Standards (NSES) and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for understanding science as inquiry and complement the existing high school science curriculum.

1. Ask answerable questions

BiomedicineWorks Film

  2. Acquire Evidence  

  3. Appraise Evidence

4. Apply Evidence to Your Patient

5. Assess Understanding of EBM

For information about evidence-based medicine, see these web sites:

• http://www.cebm.utoronto.ca
• http://www.cebm.net

BiomedicineWorks will be recruiting high school science teachers for professional development and field-testing of the curriculum beginning in September 2008.

Please contact with questions and requests for additional information.

BiomedicineWorks Partners

Front Row (left to right):

Beth Chagrasulis, Lake Region High School

Chuck Dinsmore, PhD, Lincoln Academy

John Erickson, MD, Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center

Judy Johnson, PhD, Project Evaluator

Jeri Erickson, MS, Project Director

Larry Gorton, Media Services, Maine Medical Center

Back Row (left to right):

Patty Williams, Librarian, Foundation for Blood Research

Jeff Cook, Cony High School

Pam Van Scotter, MS, BSCS

Jen Hayman, MD, Pediatric Specialist, Maine Medical Center

George Pouravelis, Sanford High School

Francis Eberle, PhD, Maine Mathematics & Science Alliance

Stephanie Dumont, Brunswick High School

Walt Allan, MD, Principal Investigator

Partners:

Supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) [No. 1 R25 RR022698-01A1] from the National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The contents provided here are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NCRR or NIH.