. 2021 Nov 30;32(1):27–30. doi: 10.1007/s40670-021-01473-x

Table 1.

Strategic updates and innovations to preclerkship dermatology curriculum

Type of learning session	Updates to curriculum
Lectures	● Lecturers asked to include representative images of skin conditions in both light and dark skin where possible ● More specific focus on different presentations of skin conditions highlighted in introduction lecture at beginning of week and in summary lecture at end of week
Case-based discussion session Session traditionally covered eczema, acne, warts, skin cancers	● Added images of dark-skinned individuals with atopic dermatitis, acne, warts, and skin cancers to traditional light-skinned clinical images ● Added learning objectives to discuss different characteristics of skin conditions in dark skin (e.g., grey versus red colored rash, pigmentation changes) ● Added specific content on presentation of skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma) in Black individuals, and how presentation differs from light-skinned individuals
Problem-based learning sessions Sessions traditionally worked through presentation of undifferentiated papulosquamous rash, with thorough discussion of psoriasis by end of week	● Clinical presentation and progression of the problem case was unchanged, and remained a White female with new onset psoriasis ● Added specific addition of learning objectives to discuss presentation of psoriasis and how it differs in persons of color, impact of topical steroids in light vs dark skin ● Added side-by-side images of plaque psoriasis and Koebner phenomenon in light and dark skin, to demonstrate erythematous vs violaceous appearance ● Updated all images to provide contrasting examples of papulosquamous rashes across numerous differential diagnoses, including lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, and secondary syphilis ● Added facilitated discussion points on differences in rash appearance, potential pigmentation changes due to rash
Team-based learning (TBL) session	● Added specific question to weekly quiz (low-stakes assessment) on impact of topical corticosteroid treatment in light-skinned vs dark-skinned individuals ● Changed previous question on malignant melanoma to have specific focus on this condition in Black individuals

Type of learning session

Updates to curriculum

Lectures

● Lecturers asked to include representative images of skin conditions in both light and dark skin where possible

● More specific focus on different presentations of skin conditions highlighted in introduction lecture at beginning of week and in summary lecture at end of week

Case-based discussion session

Session traditionally covered eczema, acne, warts, skin cancers

● Added images of dark-skinned individuals with atopic dermatitis, acne, warts, and skin cancers to traditional light-skinned clinical images

● Added learning objectives to discuss different characteristics of skin conditions in dark skin (e.g., grey versus red colored rash, pigmentation changes)

● Added specific content on presentation of skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma) in Black individuals, and how presentation differs from light-skinned individuals

Problem-based learning sessions

Sessions traditionally worked through presentation of undifferentiated papulosquamous rash, with thorough discussion of psoriasis by end of week

● Clinical presentation and progression of the problem case was unchanged, and remained a White female with new onset psoriasis

● Added specific addition of learning objectives to discuss presentation of psoriasis and how it differs in persons of color, impact of topical steroids in light vs dark skin

● Added side-by-side images of plaque psoriasis and Koebner phenomenon in light and dark skin, to demonstrate erythematous vs violaceous appearance

● Updated all images to provide contrasting examples of papulosquamous rashes across numerous differential diagnoses, including lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, and secondary syphilis

● Added facilitated discussion points on differences in rash appearance, potential pigmentation changes due to rash

Team-based learning (TBL) session

● Added specific question to weekly quiz (low-stakes assessment) on impact of topical corticosteroid treatment in light-skinned vs dark-skinned individuals

● Changed previous question on malignant melanoma to have specific focus on this condition in Black individuals