Capstone Week, also known as Humanities, Ethics, Altruism, and Leadership (HEAL Week) at the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine, represents an important transition for aspiring physicianeers, combining academic theory and clinical practice. The week is designed to be an immersive experience that equips students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to excel in their upcoming internships. Students and faculty can both confirm that Capstone Week at EnMed is essential in shaping our physicianeers to be well-rounded healthcare professionals.
Capstone Week is an intense week-long program where students engage in various activities and modules that mimic real-world internship scenarios. From morning presentations and workshops led by experienced faculty members to afternoon immersive simulations, every aspect of Capstone Week is created to provide students with practical insights and hands-on experience.
Dr. Ruby Shah, Capstone course instructor and instructional assistant professor at EnMed emphasizes the significance of this event for students and faculty, “I have been involved in Capstone since the start of EnMed. Over the years, I have seen it grow into an amazing event. I know this will be a seminal time for these students.”
One of the highlights of Capstone Week is the assessment of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). These are the essential tasks and responsibilities that medical interns must perform competently. Through rigorous evaluation, students receive constructive feedback on their proficiency in each EPA, identifying areas for improvement and reinforcing strengths.
Students are evaluated on critical competencies such as gathering patient history, performing physical examinations, and prioritizing differential diagnoses. They must demonstrate proficiency in recommending and interpreting diagnostic tests, documenting patient encounters, and presenting their cases orally. Also, they’re assessed on their ability to transition care, collaborate within interprofessional teams, manage urgent patient needs, obtain informed consent, perform procedures, and contribute to a culture of safety.
EnMed Assistant Professor Dr. Rebecca Lee, participated as an instructor in Capstone Week for the first time, expressed her enthusiasm for the event by stating, “I find Capstone Week to be incredibly valuable because it allows students to consolidate all of their clinical experiences and provide a platform for them to step out of their comfort zones and fully engage in real-world scenarios. While medical schools often offer a sheltered environment for learning, Capstone Week thrusts students into genuine, real-world experiences.”
Another exciting component of Capstone Week, for example, is the ultrasound-guided central line placement session led by a team of doctors from Houston Methodist in collaboration with EnMed faculty. Each session ensures personalized instruction and ample opportunity for hands-on practice, accommodating 8-9 students. The lab has two tables featuring an internal jugular (IJ) line trainer and a CAE blue block for realistic simulation.
“During Capstone week, I actively participated in the different simulations, including stroke scenarios, central line placements, and opioid-related simulations, drawing from my own expertise. Overall, it’s about providing a dynamic and immersive learning environment to prepare our future healthcare professionals”, articulates Dr. Lee.
The open procedure lab is another interesting component of Capstone Week, offering students the chance to engage in various clinical procedures and enhance their procedural skills. During these sessions, students participate in incision and drainage (I&D) of model abscesses.
“We aim to infuse elements of excitement and challenge into the simulations. For instance, we introduce scenarios where students face unexpected obstacles, such as receiving incorrect orders from nurses or dealing with unavailable team members. This helps them learn to prioritize effectively amidst a myriad of demands. Our goal is to make the simulations as realistic as possible while also introducing unexpected elements to enhance their learning experience,” says Dr. Lee.
Capstone Week also impacts faculty members by giving them a unique opportunity to witness their students’ culmination of work. “We are able to see our students’ growth as they are putting the final pieces together in their clinical education at EnMed. Not to mention that Capstone’s energy and fun make this well-loved by many faculty. This is evident in the number of faculty who continue to contribute each year,” adds Dr. Shah.
Furthermore, Capstone Week at Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine is a unique experience combining academic learning and real-world practice where students emerge confident and infused with essential skills necessary to excel as healthcare professionals. Let’s give these physicianeers a round of applause as they step into their clinical internships and are ready to make meaningful contributions to engineering medicine and beyond.
