Buzzwords in medical education: what they are, what they mean, and what we are doing about them at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

This article defines common buzzwords used to describe innovations in teaching medical students. As background for outlining the innovative educational programs in place at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, the dual, or bimodal, missions of the College and their historical antecedents are presented. Definitions of important educational outcomes, or standards of achievement expected from University of Kentucky College of Medicine graduates, including professionalism, active learning, evidence-based medicine, and cultural diversity are given. In addition, their relevance to the development of medical professionals is outlined, and examples of where and how these standards are introduced in the Kentucky Medical Curriculum are presented. Similarly, definitions and examples of educational methods or pedagogies used to teach our medical students are discussed including the use of problem-based learning, computer-based instruction, standardized patients, and performance-based assessment.