title: An international strategic plan to preserve and restore vision: four curricula of ophthalmic education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight the four International Curricula of Ophthalmic Education developed by the Task Forces of the International Council of Ophthalmology, published in Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde in November 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  A global perspective of developing educational curricula as tools to improve eye care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the experience and conclusions of the four international panels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Task Force on Resident and Specialist Education developed a curriculum consisting of 15 topics in basic, standard, and advanced levels to provide flexibility of educational programs of the ophthalmic specialist in different locations across the world. The curricula were designed to be an educational tool to stimulate multiple levels of training of the ophthalmic specialist. The Task Force on Ophthalmic Education of Medical Students designed a curriculum covering 11 topics and provides illustrative materials for teachers and students. The Task Force strongly advocates the ophthalmology curriculum to be part of the core program of general medical schools education. The Task Force on Para-ophthalmic Vision Specialist Education developed a curriculum to highlight the importance of a team approach to eye care, consisting of ophthalmic specialists and paraophthalmic personnel to produce maximum efficiency. The Task Force on Continuing Medical Education (CME) designed a curriculum exploring the principles, elements, categories, and administration of CME activities in a variety of topics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These curricula shifted the traditional apprentice system of education to a curriculum-based training program in which goals, expectations, competencies, and technical training are defined to improve eye care worldwide.
authors: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. matso@jhmi.edu
authors: Mark O M
authors: MO
authors: Tso
authors: Morton F
authors: MF
authors: Goldberg
authors: Andrew G
authors: AG
authors: Lee
authors: Sivaguru
authors: S
authors: Selvarajah
authors: Richard K
authors: RK
authors: Parrish
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Zagorski
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*