Teaching medical students and the Mindset List

A professor at Beloit College started a list of cultural differences between teachers and students.  This year’s list – Mindset list for the class of 2012 – contains a variety of interesting observations.

1. GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available.
2. Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles.
3. Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.
4. Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.
5. Their parents may have dropped them in shock when they heard

In teaching medicine I often consider the changes in medicine over my career.  We can take advantage of knowing our medical mindset list as a tool for teaching about the changes in medicine.  Here is a brief, incomplete mindset list for what we knew when I was a houseofficer that has changed dramatically.

1. Ulcers are caused by acid and stress
2. We should treat PVCs after MI with antiarrythmic drugs (like quinidine)
3. We should code anyone who dies in the hospital (no advanced directives)
4. There was no disease of AIDS
5. Or Legionnaire’s disease
6. All staph aureus responds to methicillin
7. We did not have home oxygen as an option
8. We treated hypertension with alpha methyldopa (no ACE inhibitors, no beta blockers, no ARBs, no calcium channel blockers)
9. We had first generation cephalosporins
10. We had 2 types of viral hepatitis, but no letters assigned
11. We had no H2 blockers or PPIs
12. etc

By understanding where we were and understanding where we are, we can teach fundamental principles and teach the importance of continuing learning.