Year 3 MD Program Course Descriptions

Courses and Clerkships

Core Clerkship/Inpatient Medicine
Students will learn the care of patients with acute medical conditions, including physical examination of patients, defining and prioritizing problems in order to generate an appropriate differential diagnosis, interpretation of common diagnostic tests and studies, development of treatment strategies, and communication of findings and strategies to the patient and family members.
Course Objectives

Core Clerkship/Psychiatry
Careful statistical studies have demonstrated that approximately one out of every four patients seen by non-psychiatric physicians has significant psychiatric problems or a stress related component to his/her medical disorder. Because of this, it is essential for all doctors to be able to identify, understand, and effectively handle the majority of such individuals. It is with this aim in mind that the introduction to clinical psychiatry has been designed. The clerkship will be directed toward facilitating the medical students’ understanding of the patient as a bio-social-psychological being who presents oneself to any physician, regardless of specialty.
Course Objectives

Core Clerkship/Surgery
Students apply appropriate knowledge from literature and current clinical and translational sciences to the practice of surgical care in the fields of general surgery, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, trauma and acute care surgery, minimally invasive surgery, colorectal surgery, community surgery, pediatric surgery and/or surgical oncology.
Course Objectives

Core Clerkship/Pediatrics
Students will acquire the knowledge necessary for the diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic illness in the pediatric population. The course will focus on the unique needs and disorders of children and adolescents.
Course Objectives

Core Clerkship/Obstetrics and Gynecology
Students learn to apply appropriate reproductive medical science knowledge and current clinical and translational science to patient care. They will develop diagnostic skills, physical examination skills, communication skills, and the skills necessary to perform obstetric and gynecologic procedures.
Course Objectives

Core Clerkship/Family Medicine
Students will apply previous learning to the unique facets of primary care practice. Basic office testing skills, communication skills, diagnostic skills, treatment skills, and follow up will be stressed.
Course Objectives

Interdisciplinary Clinical Exercises (ICE)
The ICE course, a required two credit course in Year 3, will provide instruction in several clinical fields felt to be important by faculty, accrediting bodies such as the LCME, and students, but not systematically taught during ward and clinic rotations. Instruction will occur in several formats including lectures, small group discussions, interactive computer exercises, and use of simulated patients and mannequins. Topics covered will include the structure of healthcare teams, death and dying, training in specific clinical procedures, pain management, money in health care, and other important topics common to many clerkships. There will also be required instruction in OR OSHA techniques for students about to begin the surgery or OB-GYN rotations. Students are not allowed in the OR or delivery room until they have completed OR OSHA training, so it is very important to attend the training when scheduled. The ICE sessions are also opportunities to assemble the class during the year for advising about Year 4 and about the residency application process, as well as information about careers in various medical specialties.
Course Objectives