Design Thinking in Medical Education: The Key Features and Practical Application

J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2020 Jun 4:7:2382120520926518. doi: 10.1177/2382120520926518. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Design thinking is a process that applies both creativity and innovation to iteratively develop and implement a new product. The design thinking process also enhances design thinking skills that are essential for personal and professional life in a complex world. Health care is increasingly being faced with complex problems, and the education of current and future doctors in design thinking is an important curricular challenge for all medical educators. Medical educators will need to enhance their own design thinking skills to enable them to effectively respond to this challenge.

Keywords: Creativity; curriculum development; design thinking; design-based research; educational design research; innovation; medical education.