University of South Dakota Medical School Case Study
See how second-year students achieved a 146% overall boost in confidence after completing DDx cases in their Cardiovascular block.
Overview
Addressing clinical skills gaps within the cardiovascular block
The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine aimed to address gaps in clinical skills — particularly in history-taking, physical exam interpretation, and differential diagnosis. Faculty expressed the need for an interactive, easy-to-implement solution that would allow students to practice independently while offering engaging, high-quality case-based learning. DDx was integrated into the second-year cardiovascular block, with 69 MS2 students completing three expert-authored cases across a one-week period.
Overview
The challenge
Students need structured, independent practice before the clinical years
The program sought a scalable case-based learning solution that would allow PA students to practice clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis through realistic simulated patient encounters.
Faculty at USD Sanford recognized that students needed more structured, independent practice in history-taking, physical exam interpretation, and differential diagnosis before entering their clinical years. Traditional case-based methods did not provide the interactivity, immediate feedback, or flexibility students needed — and the logistics of scheduling and running live simulation were significant barriers to consistent practice at scale.
The solution
Why DDx by Sketchy?
Integrated three expert-authored DDx cases into the second-year Cardiovascular block curriculum; students completed cases spaced one week apart, allowing for reflection and skill-building between sessions. Each case was peer-reviewed to ensure clinical accuracy and educational relevance and faculty used comprehensive performance monitoring tools to track progress and tailor support.
DDx offered an AI-enabled, case-based learning environment that allowed USD Sanford students to practice clinical skills across high-yield cardiovascular and pulmonary presentations. The platform's seamless integration into the curriculum, along with comprehensive performance monitoring tools, enabled faculty to track student progress and tailor support effectively. Faculty valued DDx's curriculum mapping capabilities and iterative improvements, which enriched the student experience and facilitated more targeted teaching.
How did DDx by Sketchy fit?
DDx was piloted during a single facilitated classroom session, where didactic- and clinical-year PA students completed a chest pain case designed to reinforce key clinical reasoning concepts.
Cases Included:
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Students engaged with DDx cases as part of their coursework, using the platform to practice:
- Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
The results
A 146% overall confidence improvement — and a long-term adoption decision
Testimonials
What did students say?
From pilot to adoption
The Sanford School of Medicine pilot concluded with a strong student preference for DDx over other case-based learning solutions — and a clear institutional commitment to continued use. By integrating DDx longitudinally across clerkships starting in January 2025, USD Sanford made a lasting investment in building students' diagnostic skills with a tool they trusted, valued, and wanted to keep using.
Contents
Similar case studies
