Prior Education and Medical School Achievement: An Analysis of Elective Courses Impact in a Flipped Classroom

Medical school curricula change rapidly, moving from a purely lecture-based format in the early 20th century to today’s organ system-based courses, problem-based learning, and clinical correlations earlier in the medical school experience. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) describes the minimum required courses for medical school to be 1 year each of biology, physics, English, and 2 years of chemistry. Many core classes in medical school are not addressed these required courses. This study examines whether taking foundational yet non-required courses, such as (1) anatomy, (2) immunology/microbiology, and (3) biochemistry prior to matriculation to medical school increases the likelihood of student success, particularly in a flipped classroom setting.