Embryology Curriculum and Leadership

Embryology is a longitudinally integrated component of our Vista medical curriculum, designed to provide students with a solid foundation in developmental biology and its relevance to clinical practice. While embryology is threaded throughout the curriculum, the primary emphasis occurs during the preclerkship phase, ensuring that learners develop a comprehensive understanding before entering clinical training. 

In the early preclerkship phase, general embryology is introduced during the Principles blocks, where students explore fundamental concepts of early human development, including gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, and the formation of germ layers. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for more applied learning as students’ progress. 

As learners move through the system-based blocks within the preclerkship phase, embryology is integrated into each system, emphasizing normal developmental processes and correlating these with common congenital anomalies. This approach allows students to contextualize embryology within the relevant organ systems, reinforcing key developmental principles while highlighting clinical implications.  

Oversight of the effective coverage, placement, sequencing, and integration of embryology content is provided by a dedicated longitudinal embryology director, whose role is funded by the school. This leadership ensures that embryology content is not only robust and up to date but also aligned with curricular goals and clinical competencies. The director collaborates with system leads and course directors to optimize the delivery and assessment of embryology throughout the curriculum. 

To maintain transparency and ensure continuous quality improvement, we utilize a curricular map that details the distribution and depth of embryology content across the Vista curriculum. Additionally, a course-level report is generated to evaluate the effectiveness of content delivery, integration, and assessment. These tools help ensure that our embryology curriculum remains cohesive, clinically relevant, and responsive to both learner needs and evolving educational standards.