George Washington University Case Study
See how MS1 students improved their overall clinical reasoning confidence by 248% with DDx.
Overview
Developing clinical reasoning skills across year two of medical school
At George Washington University, faculty aimed to strengthen students' diagnostic abilities by implementing an interactive, scalable case-based learning experience within both first- and second-year curricula. GWU piloted DDx with both MS1 and MS2 students — each engaging with tailored clinical scenarios aligned to their respective curriculum. First-year students focused on pulmonary symptoms, while second-year students tackled musculoskeletal, neurologic, and non-specific presenting symptoms.
Overview
The challenge
Building diagnostic confidence early — before rotations demand it
The program sought a scalable case-based learning solution that would allow first- and second-year medical students to practice clinical reasoning and diagnostic decision-making through realistic patient encounters during the preclinical years.
Developing robust clinical reasoning skills early in medical training is vital for future physicians. At GWU, faculty recognized that students needed structured, engaging opportunities to practice diagnostic decision-making during the preclinical years — building the confidence and competence they would need when they entered clinical rotations. Traditional curricula often left this practice to the clinical years, resulting in students who had strong knowledge but fewer opportunities to apply it in realistic diagnostic scenarios.
The solution
Why DDx by Sketchy?
MS1 students completed pulmonary symptom DDx cases integrated into their first-year curriculum; MS2 students completed musculoskeletal, neurologic, and non-specific presenting symptom cases; Interactive sessions promoted history-taking, physical examination interpretation, differential diagnosis formation, diagnostic test ordering, and result interpretation. Faculty utilized case customization, assignment controls, and student performance insights to enhance teaching effectiveness.
How did DDx by Sketchy fit?
DDx was integrated into GWU's curriculum through interactive sessions designed to actively promote the full diagnostic reasoning workflow. Faculty benefited from DDx's capabilities including case customization, assignment controls, and student performance insights — enhancing educational efficiency and effectiveness at the program level and allowing for more targeted instruction.
Cases Included:
- Pulmonary symptom cases (MS1)
- Musculoskeletal, neurologic
- Non-specific presenting symptom cases (MS2)
Students engaged with DDx cases as part of their coursework, using the platform to practice:
- Pulmonary symptom cases (MS1)
- Musculoskeletal, neurologic
- Non-specific presenting symptom cases (MS2)
The results
Extraordinary confidence gains across both years of training
Testimonials
What did students say?
A trusted platform for early and advanced clinical reasoning development
GWU's pilot demonstrated DDx's strong potential for enhancing clinical reasoning skills, student engagement, and realistic clinical interaction experiences across multiple years of training. Positive feedback from both students and faculty highlighted the value of interactive case-based learning in medical education — and reinforced the potential of integrating DDx as a longitudinal tool throughout the full medical school curriculum.
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