Don’t Build the Plane While It’s in the Air: 12 Practical Tips for Managing the Operations of a Major Curricular Change

Curricular transformation is a common and complex undertaking in undergraduate medical education. While conceptual frameworks for curriculum design and change leadership are well established, the operational challenges of implementing large-scale change are often underestimated and less appreciated. Many initiatives struggle during execution due to unclear roles, fragmented communication, insufficient organization and planning, poor transparency, and limited structured project management. Faculty leaders are rarely trained in these skills, despite routinely leading highly complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. This article presents 12 practical tips for managing the operational aspects of a major curricular change, from the initial design of new content through implementation. Drawing on established principles from change management, curriculum design, project management, as well as the authors’ experience leading a major curricular redesign at a large academic medical center, these tips focus on building the infrastructure required for successful execution. Key areas include leadership structure, role clarity, workflow design, communication strategies, digital file management, and provision of financial support. Central to this approach is the use of shared project dashboards and timelines, which provide real-time visibility into progress and function as a “GPS” to guide execution. By translating high-level concepts into actionable strategies, this paper offers practical tips for improving the execution of curricular transformation.