Professor Teaches First Online Course in UC College of Medicine

Surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists — it can be difficult getting different doctors into the same room. With their busy schedules, students studying to be doctors have the same difficulty. That is why the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine is now offering its first online course.

Taught by Dr. Amy Thompson, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, the class focuses on doctor-patient communication. The class is only open to fourth-year medical students who have difficult schedules as they travel to interview at hospitals for residency training. 

“If I were to do something like this in a traditional classroom, it would be hard getting everyone together,” Thompson said.

Throughout the course, Thompson’s students watch movies that show good or bad doctor-patient communication. They have watched “50/50” starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen, “Lars and the Real Girl” starring Ryan Gosling, and “Patch Adams” starring Robin Williams.

“The students are really enjoying it,” Thompson said.

Using the Blackboard discussion board tool, the students reflect on and talk about the movies. They even filmed their own movies, which they showed at the Tangeman University Center Cinema.

Students are also allowed to come in and work in the College of Medicine’s Simulation Center. Here they can take video of their interactions with patients and get feedback from peers and faculty. However, some may say that teaching a virtual class on human interaction is counterintuitive. 

“If we can use an online environment to teach something that most people think you need to learn in person, then that is pretty cool,” Thompson said.

This course is just the first online class in the College of Medicine, but Thompson hopes to see more offered in the years to come. 

“I think as we mature we will have more conversations to apply the tools and where we can expand,” Thompson said.

She wants to see more interaction between different health-related disciplines and medicine.

“If you can’t find the time, online education takes away that barrier,” Thompson said.