Stagnation to Innovation :
A Call to Foster a More Creative Environment in the Traditional Medical School Curriculum
by ANDREW WILLETT , MOHAMMAD HAQ & JOSEPH HOLLAND
Medical schools honor and promote tradition . As such , the Hippocratic oath , a longstanding medical custom that highlights the profession ’ s commitment to medical servitude worldwide , has been recited by first-year medical students for decades . However , this profound and previously unwavering tradition is evolving . In October 2020 , the World Medical Association tweaked the Hippocratic oath by renaming it “ The Physician ’ s Pledge ” and added new references to address the responsibilities of the present-day physician more thoroughly . 1 Members of the
Class of 2024 at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have adopted a similar approach , and collectively rewrote their class oath to better acknowledge the context of U . S . history and medicine while highlighting the importance of diversity , inclusion and social justice for all . 2 Although limited to a distinct aspect of the medical school experience , this movement highlights how our current medical education system should continue to grow : expanding upon a traditional foundation with the intent to encompass the needs of the present-day medical climate more effectively .
Despite a myriad of advancements , medicine has yet to reach its fullest potential during a hectic 21st century . We have encountered a plethora of obstacles ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic , the war in Ukraine , mass police brutality throughout the U . S . and the climate crisis ( to name a few ). Simultaneously , we have encountered some of the greatest breakthroughs and advancements the world has ever seen ! The widespread availability of the internet through smartphones coupled with the integration of artificial intelligence
( continued on page 30 )
March 2023 29