How many times have we heard, “it’s all right there in your syllabus”?
We get this reassurance from our professors and leaders throughout our education. That a few sheets of paper lay out everything you need to learn, when you’ll cover certain topics, and what the important dates and exams are. All you have to do is show up, read the chapters indicated, and you’ll succeed. A good grade is almost assured if you keep up, work hard, and do what you’re told.
By the end of said course or experience, you’ll have newfound knowledge, and you’ll have pulled all that you could from the assigned curriculum.
Sounds like a good story.
But is that all there is to it?
Not entirely. As it turns out, the things they leave off the syllabus matter.
Sometimes, more than anything else.
Let’s talk about the things they don’t tell you about but you really need to learn, what’s known as the “unwritten curriculum” of medical school.
What They Don’t Tell You in Med School
I was unfamiliar with the term “unwritten curriculum” when I heard it last week, but when given some contextual examples, it became quite clear. I realized it existed, but never took the time to stop and ensure I was getting high marks there as well.
What I now see is that during my cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship, the unwritten curriculum was learning how to function as part of a busy cardiac anesthesia practice. I learned the importance of showing up, having a seat at the table of the health system, being proactive about throughput, and learning to become a leader.
While none of these were listed on our outline for the year, and weren’t included as part of our Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements, these were really the determinants of how successful we could become. Surely every one of us would figure out the technical aspects of safely administering ideal anesthetics. And we’d all learn to become excellent intraoperative instructors.
However, the truly great would also identify the unwritten curriculum, excel in these areas as well, and be better off in the long run for it!
5 Critical Lessons on the Unwritten Medical School Curriculum
So, how does this apply to your current situation?
You must take some time to consciously and deliberately ascertain what constitutes your own personal unwritten curriculum during medical school.
Here’s five things that aren’t on the syllabus during medical school, but are important to master:
1. Dealing With Change
Let’s say you’re at the beginning of your medical school journey. You’re in a new environment, with new classmates, new challenges, and a new life! The beginning of MS-1 year brings with it overarching change that you must assimilate. That’s number one on your curriculum—dealing with extreme change, while at the same time, learning medicine and passing exams.
2. Self-Guided Learning
Now that you’re in medical school, you’ll be afforded more control of your own daily schedule and study habits. Should you go to class or stay home and watch the lecture? Or eschew both and use online resources instead? Should you study before class at the library, or after class at home? Is it best to study with others or alone?
With less hand-holding, you’ll have to get the pieces in place to become a self guided learner. It’s right there on your unwritten curriculum!
3. Exploring on Your Own
Now, your school will afford you opportunities to learn about most specialties in medicine, and you’ll have to complete your core clerkships, but what about the esoteric ones like radiation oncology or dermatology?
It isn’t going to be easy to learn about fields that aren’t spoon-fed to you. There’s no choice but to start exploring on your own by organizing volunteering and shadowing experiences with other departments and professors.
4. Soft Skills
Maybe you’re an MS-4 starting your sub-internship. You’ve done the book reading, have built a strong foundation in the subject, and are ready to shine on rounds.
But what about the finer points, or the “soft skills” in medicine?
Have you thought about what it takes to show genuine interest on rounds without turning off others by being too eager? Have you crafted your approach to obtaining a letter of recommendation?
Are you analyzing your teaching ability and thinking about how to be a better instructor to your underclassmen during the day? Have you thought about how you’ll balance call shifts with completing your ERAS personal statement?
Solving these problems requires a set of skills that aren’t mentioned on the syllabus.
5. The Art of Living
Then of course there’s the unwritten curriculum of life, balancing rigorous academic workplace demands with physical fitness, interpersonal relationships, finances, families, and so on. You don’t want to ignore these things. Life goes on, even while you’re in medical school.
Key Takeaways
What I ask of you is this: stop sometimes. Even if only for five minutes.
Take yourself away from the work that needs to get done. And think about what you need to learn in this rotation/year/phase that’s not written on the content outline for your board exam, or your evaluation.
Figure out the other lessons that you’re supposed to learn along the way, and devote some explicit attention towards them. Identifying and excelling at whatever is contained within your own unwritten curriculum is equally as important to the content you already knew about.
Best of luck on your med school journey, and don’t hesitate to reach out to Blueprint tutors for more individual support!
