UNC School of Medicine has launched a groundbreaking preclinical neurology curriculum redesign that has rapidly improved student performance and engagement by integrating interactive digital learning modules with hands‑on neuroanatomy and clinical skills training. This initiative, led by SOM leadership Dr. Kathy Barnhouse, Dr. Kurt Gilliland, Dr. Emily Moorefield and Dr. Evan Raff, was brought to the pre-clinical neurology block “Neurons to Networks” by Dr. Tamara Strohm with much success.
The curricular redesign began in 2022 and 2023 when faculty noted that students were relying on external study tools rather than UNC recommended resources, and many entered clinical rotations with limited mastery of foundational neurological principles. To reverse this trend, UNC adopted a flipped classroom model powered by ScholarRx “Bricks”—self‑paced, high‑yield modules that guide students through foundational neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and core neurologic disorders using active learning techniques.
After completing Bricks independently, students participate in enriched in‑person sessions that bring neurology to life. Small‑group, case‑based discussions are paired with specialized activities such as cadaveric brain dissections, neuroimaging interpretation, and ultrasound‑guided lumbar puncture simulations. This structure strengthens clinical reasoning while helping students translate foundational neuroscience into real‑world neurological care.
Early results have been striking. NBME neurology‑related exam scores—including CBSE neurological and special senses subscores—showed significant improvement for the 2024 and 2025 cohorts. Course evaluations also reflected increased confidence in understanding neurologic disease mechanisms and applying them during clinical rotations.
“It was more fun for me to go to work every day'” remarked Dr. Strohm. “The students and I were able to develop a relationship and they were happy. They were asking questions, they were engaging with the content.”
In 2025 Dr. Strohm, with the support of Dr. Lynn Liu, successfully received a SOM educational innovation grant to develop a series of twelve Clinical Neurology Bricks to be utilized in the upcoming mandatory two-week MS4 clerkship. These Bricks are openly licensed under Creative Commons (CC‑BY‑SA), enabling medical schools nationwide to adapt and reuse the modules.
You can find the full article here: https://exchange.scholarrx.com/brick/d6qnopoq29zo