Sustained improvements in student outcomes following integration of clinical case narratives in veterinary microbiology curriculum

Microbiology education in veterinary curricula requires students to integrate complex foundational knowledge with clinical application, yet traditional lecture-based approaches often emphasize memorization over higher-order reasoning. In this study, we evaluated the impact of integrating clinically oriented, case-based instruction into a veterinary microbiology course within a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum. Using a quasi-experimental, multi-year design, student outcomes were compared before (2019, 2021) and after (2022-2025) implementation of case-based teaching while maintaining consistent course content, structure, and assessments. Introduction of clinical case examples was associated with significant and sustained improvements in student evaluations across multiple domains, including perceived relevance, critical thinking, and overall course value. Instructor-related evaluation metrics also improved. Student performance, measured by final course grades, increased following the intervention without evidence of grade inflation. These findings demonstrate that integrating clinically relevant case narratives into microbiology instruction enhances student engagement and student performance. This work highlights a practical and scalable strategy for improving microbiology education, particularly within veterinary and other health-professions curricula.