Is the lecture dead? Incorporating Principles of Learning Science to Enliven your Resident Didactics

Saturday, February 21, 2026

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM AST

Location: 104 C

Course Director(s)

Karen Barr, MD

Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh/UPMC

Speaker(s)

Jean Luc Banks, MD (he/him/his)

Chief Resident
UPMC

Faculty(s)

Ryan P. Nussbaum, DO

Assistant Professor and Sports Medicine Fellowship Director
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Speaker(s)

Kerry G. DeLuca, MD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
UPMC
David Rivetti, MD (he/him/his)

PGY3 Resident
University of Pittsburgh/UPMC

Brief Session Description : Advances in technology and shifts in learner preferences—accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic—have transformed how educational content is delivered. This session invites reflection on emerging and established best practices in modern didactic methods. We will begin by reviewing key learning theory principles and offering practical ways clinicians can integrate them into busy workflows. Using real-world examples from our teaching, we’ll share both our successes and the challenges we faced, along with strategies that helped us overcome them. The session will conclude with a discussion on when alternative formats may be more effective than traditional lectures for engaging and educating learners.