How to improve dermatology teaching and learning at the undergraduate level? Recommendations by a faculty panel of Kerala state Branch of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists

The undergraduate dermatology curriculum and teaching have to reflect the sea of changes that the specialty has undergone in recent years. In tune with this, the Kerala branch of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists (IADVL-K) planned an initiative to draft an advocacy document containing recommendations to improve the standard of undergraduate training, especially with regard to the implementation of competency-based medical education and training of attitude, ethics, and communication skills (AETCOM). A four-member panel was constituted by the state president for this purpose. The committee conducted virtual discussions and consultations with experts, following which a draft advocacy document was prepared on which suggestions from all members of IADVL Kerala were sought. Four core areas of change in undergraduate dermatology teaching and learning along with the agencies that could initiate such changes were identified. This initiative from a professional organization has attempted to harness opinions of the faculty of dermatology of an entire state and provide important insights into the direction in which undergraduate dermatology training should be oriented in the coming years in our country.