ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This paper reports on the development a program to foster 'good doctors' who care for their patients with humanism and self-directed learning ability. METHODS: In order to develop the program, Korea University College of Medicine established educational committees. In collaboration, these committees discussed the direction for curriculum reorganization, performed a needs analysis of specified programs, and built realistic strategies for program management. Based upon the needs analyses, through literature review and survey studies, committee discussions and benchmarking of other medical schools, three programs were developed for rearing humanism and self-directed learning ability in medical students were developed: Service learning by experiential learning; Doctoring by small group activities; and Communication skills program by various small group activities. RESULTS: The evaluation by the pre-medical students who participated in the service learning program for one week reveals that through service learning, pre-medical students had an opportunity to obtain the attitudes that encompass the sanctity and dignity of human life and an understanding of cultural, social and religious customs and beliefs that differ from his or her own. In addition, the pre-medical students came to realize that patients' most difficult problems might be caused by non-medical factors as well as medical factors. CONCLUSION: It is needed to grope for the way that leads the active participation of students in the continuous linkage of substantial post-work evaluation and next learning of volunteering in order to make the program of educating the public spirit more than self-learning of experience.