We are discussing with Dr. Owen Dempsey, consultant and academic at the University of Aberdeen what makes CBL such a powerful approach for both students and educators. With hundreads of digital cases in development, Aberdeen’s CBL programme has become a flagship for blended learning, interactivity, and inclusive curriculum design.

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What Is Case-Based Learning?

CBL is more than a teaching method, it’s a dynamic, patient-centered learning journey. Students don’t just absorb facts; they follow a simulated or real patient from symptoms to diagnosis, mirroring how clinical reasoning unfolds in real life.

It’s all about active engagement, prompting students to ask questions, apply knowledge, and challenge assumptions. Whether delivered through online cases, live patient interviews, or tutor-led discussions, the goal is the same: make learning meaningful, contextual, and clinically relevant.

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Online, Interactive, and Accessible

Aberdeen’s online CBL library includes hundreads of cases, with more in the pipeline. Each case is designed to be short, story-driven, and interactive. Students can access these cases anytime, anywhere, making them ideal for flexible, scalable education, especially valuable in a post-COVID landscape where remote learning is here to stay.

CBL isn’t limited to screens.

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Bringing Patients into the Classroom

Face-to-face CBL is also used. We discuss an example of using a real patient with chronic lung disease. The patient’s personal story gave context, making it the case more engaging and memorable.

Even when patients can’t physically attend, Aberdeen’s team uses digital tools to create hybrid sessions with live interaction between students, patients, and staff. One COVID-19 case was delivered this way, with over 200 students engaging remotely with a real patient’s recovery story.

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Support for Educators: Templates, Tools, and Co-Authors

One of the barriers to CBL is confidence. Clinicians may hesitate to contribute cases because they’re unfamiliar with the tech, uncertain about expectations, or unsure where to begin.

Aberdeen’s team is addressing this head-on:

• Templates and guides are available to simplify the process
• Medical students and junior doctors are encouraged to co-author cases (for CVs and education experience)
• Senior clinicians provide oversight to ensure accuracy and clinical depth
• Educators who contribute multiple cases may be supported in applying for honorary tutor status

Dr. Dempsey’s message is clear: “You’re not alone. Support is available, and we’ll guide you through the process.”

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Curriculum Alignment & Inclusivity

All cases are mapped to the GMC Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) requirements, ensuring alignment with national standards. Additionally, the team actively works to diversify content, representing different ethnicities, genders, and social contexts to address equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Rather than using one-dimensional, outdated patient types, the CBL programme seeks to reflect real-world diversity and complexity.

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The Data Is In: Students Want More CBL

Feedback from thousands of students shows overwhelming support:

• Over 12,000 responses say “Yes” to wanting more CBL
• Comments consistently praise the value of reasoning over memorisation
• Students say CBL builds confidence, engagement, and real-world skills

Even though CBL isn’t a complete replacement for lectures or textbooks, it’s become an essential part of a blended approach that meets students where they are, and prepares them for where they’re going.

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Want to Get Involved?

Interested in contributing a case, becoming a tutor, or learning how CBL could fit in your own teaching?

Dr. Dempsey and the team are open to collaboration. You’ll get:

• Recognition
• Educational development experience
• Training and feedback
• A real chance to shape future clinical education

Contact details are available at the end of the episode, whether you’re a student looking to get involved or a clinician curious about case-writing, Aberdeen’s CBL team is ready to support you.

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Final Thoughts

In a time when medical education must adapt to growing class sizes, diverse student needs, and rapidly changing clinical environments, CBL offers something powerful: a humanised, interactive, and scalable model that connects knowledge to action.

At Aberdeen, it’s not just a method, it’s a movement.