Each week of the systems-based courses consists of 1 to 2 Clinical Presentations (CPs). Each CP is accompanied by a clinical algorithm. The algorithm consists of a diagram to aid the student in reaching a diagnosis via deductive reasoning. The faculty will guide the students through the scheme(s), emphasizing critical decision points and setting the framework for the integration of the basic sciences. Faculty will subsequently present the fundamental principles from the basic sciences (e.g. anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, nutrition, pathology, pharmacology, physiology etc.) to supply the student with the adequate knowledge and comprehension required to deduce a differential diagnosis and treatment plan. These basic science sessions will highlight the normal structures and functions of the system, as well as various disease states, including care and treatment options. At the end of the week, students will work-up a Clinical Case using the knowledge acquired during the week and calling upon previous medical knowledge. Concurrently, students will participate in the longitudinal medical skills and The Colloquium sessions to reinforce concepts learned during the week.
Year One
Year Two
The Medical Skills course is designed to teach each medical student the necessary clinical skills needed for medical practice. These skills include
In addition, students are expected to understand the use of counseling and feedback, both with their future patients and in their own growth as future physicians.
Learning will be accomplished using a combination of:
Formative feedback/assessment will include:
The CPs presented in the Systems-based courses will be used to focus the selection of the “skill of the week”.
The Colloquium course is a series of seminars presented to medical students in Years 1 and 2. At the beginning of Year 1, students will be divided into groups of 20 and each group will constitute a College. Students will remain in their assigned college for the first two years of Medical School. Each college will be led by a College Mentor. College Mentors will be responsible for delivering the content of the course to their college. The Colloquia are conducted in a discussion or workshop format, and cover complex, multidisciplinary aspects of professional development. The course also includes invited presentations by experts followed by discussion. The purpose of this course is to address important issues that the students will encounter in the practice of medicine and to prepare them to become compassionate, trustworthy, well-informed medical doctors who understand the challenges of this profession and can face them with confidence and honor.
Colloquium Topics
Physician Development
Public Health
Basic Communication
Patient Diversity
Ethics Fundamental
Healthcare Systems
The required Self-Directed Student Scholarly Project (Scholarly Project) is a research-based program to be completed during the first two years of medical school. The Scholarly Project will allow students to hone their analytical and investigative skills by participating in an active research project under a faculty advisor to produce usable data sets, public presentations, and abstracts suitable for publication. The requirements for the project will be explained to students during the Orientation. The following are examples of broader categories that are suitable for a scholarly project:
Students will develop a hypothesis/question and devise the methods and steps appropriate to answering the question/hypothesis with the guidance of their chosen mentor. They will then generate a suitable research project proposal with corresponding planned analysis and outcomes.
Depending on the type of project, the students may have to complete required training (for example, laboratory biosafety training, blood-borne pathogen training, radiation safety training, IRB and HIPAA training for working with human subjects or accessing patient data, or IACUC training for working with laboratory animals). Projects that include human research subjects will require approval by the CNU IRB. Similarly, if laboratory animals are used, approval by the CNU IACUC will be required.