Curriculum - The Basic Science Years

M1 Curriculum

The first year medical school curriculum is newly redesigned and is centered around an organ systems approach to medical education to create an integrated learning experience. For example, students learn about normal organ system function in didactic lectures and small group sessions at the same time that they learn about the physical examination of those organ systems. The first year curriculum includes lectures, laboratories, small group sessions, and patient interactions.

Normal Organ Systems and Physical Examination Skills:
The Normal Cell
Neurosciences
Dermatology
Musculoskeletal
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Renal (Kidney)
Gastroenterology
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Reproduction
Growth & Development
Host defenses, Infectious Diseases & Microbiology

Integrated into this curriculum are:
Interviewing skills
Histology labs
Anatomy labs (including radiology & imaging modalities)
Family/patient-centered experience

M2 Curriculum

The 2nd year medical school curriculum continues with an organ system based approach but with a focus on abnormal function, i.e. diseases. The sequences are self-contained modules that include laboratory sessions and patient presentations. In addition, the Clinical Educator Program is continued, teaching history taking, physical examination and patient presentation skills.

The Abnormal Organ Systems covered are similar to the Normal Organ Systems listed in the M1 year. As with the M1 year, Radiology & imaging modalities are integrated into the curriculum, as are Pathology laboratories.

At the end of the M2 year, students take the first of two Comprehensive Clinical Assessments (CCA I; CCA II is taken upon completion of the M3 year). Students also take USMLE Step 1 at the end of the M2 year.