Medical Student Bridge Program Case: Mary Beth Chrispy

The Mary Beth Chrispy case is a prematriculation, case-based learning activity designed to introduce incoming medical students to clinical reasoning, small-group collaboration, and the structure of patient case analysis prior to the start of formal medical training. The activity follows a 25-year-old second-year medical student presenting with fatigue and difficulty concentrating, prompting learners to develop an initial differential diagnosis while navigating clinical history, laboratory interpretation, and psychosocial considerations.

Through guided discussion and facilitator-led prompts, participants practice synthesizing patient information, identifying relevant diagnostic resources, and recognizing clinical features associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection. The case also integrates professional development content related to early academic habits and burnout prevention. Embedded self-assessment questions evaluate learner comprehension and application of foundational concepts addressed throughout the activity.

Target Learners 

• Prematriculating (incoming) medical students 

• Students enrolled in: 

• • Medical school bridge programs 

• • Academic transition or boot camp initiatives 

• • Early remediation or readiness programs 

• Learners with limited prior exposure to: 

• • Case-based learning 

• • Clinical reasoning frameworks 

• • Small-group medical education formats 

Equipment / Materials Needed 

• Printed or electronic: 

• • Student case handout 

• • Facilitator guide 

• • Self-assessment questionnaire 

• Writing materials (e.g., notebooks or laptops) 

• Whiteboard or shared digital workspace for group discussion 

• Facilitator trained in small-group case-based instruction 

• Optional: 

• • Standardized patient for introductory clinical encounter 

Estimated Time to Complete