Foundation of Clinical Medicine

A student speaking during a class

This segment of the clinical curriculum runs longitudinally through the Foundations of Medicine and Health and seeks to develop a broad range of clinical and professional capabilities. Foundations of Clinical Medicine develops the necessary skill sets through four separate, but integrated, programs.

Tuesday Seminars

This longitudinal course continues the theme of “doctoring” begun in Block 1 and spans the Year 1 and Year 2 curriculum. Topics examined include the relationship between the physician and the patient, the family and the community; professionalism; healthcare disparities; cultural competence, quality improvement; law and medicine; medical error/patient safety, development of mindful practitioners and end of life issues.

Communications in Medicine

This course is comprised of seven workshops running through Year 1 and Year 2 that focus on the range of skills needed for effectively talking with patients including the basic medical interview, educating patients about a disease, counseling patients for health behavior change, and presenting difficult news and diagnosis.

Physical Diagnosis

This course runs throughout Year 1 and Year 2 and includes:

  • Physical Diagnosis 1: Introducing the basic adult exam to Year 1 students for one session per week for eight weeks;
  • Physical Diagnosis 2: In depth regional exams in various formats during Year 1 and Year 2; and
  • Physical Diagnosis 3: In Year 2 where students spend five sessions doing complete histories, physicals and write ups on patients they see in an in-patient setting.

Patient-based Programs

Community Patient Care Preceptorships (CPCP) occur during either Year 1 or Year 2. Students spend 10 afternoons in a community physician's office developing and reinforcing medical interviewing, physical exam and presentation skills (written and oral) with ongoing mentorship from a preceptor and an innovative online curriculum.