BUSM Curriculum
The BUSM curriculum offers students the opportunity to study medicine in a flexible, supportive environment that stimulates critical inquiry and provides a sound base of knowledge in the biological, social, and behavioral sciences. Curriculum review, integration, and modification is an ongoing process. Over the last several years we have restructured the academic program to expand early clinical experiences; we have reduced lecture hours and expanded small group exercises, laboratory sessions, and problem-based seminars; we have integrated the sciences basic to the study of medicine; and we have expanded flexibility and elective time throughout the program.
Highlights
Doctoring 1 is a year-long course in the first year where students learn foundational doctoring skills. The course is structured in case-based small groups that allow for clinical interviews with a faculty member or a standardized patient so that students can learn and practice communication skills and data gathering, doctor-patient relationship building, physical examinations, clinical reasoning, case presentation and documentation skills. Further, these cases will promote integration of foundational and social science topics students are learning in their other courses and provide an opportunity for self-directed learning. At the end of each session, students will identify learning needs related to the case, and each will select a topic to research. The following week, students will teach their classmates about the topic they researched to further the group’s understanding of the case. Students will have clinical placements in the hospital during the fall, with a longitudinal preceptor in the spring. During their clinical placements, students will apply and practice the content they have learned in their small groups through interviewing patients and performing physical exams. Students will learn team-building skills and will reflect on topics surrounding professionalism, ethics, and professional identify formation. This course is a merger of the previously offered Integrated Problems 1 and Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1 courses and is designed to deliberately integrate clinical reasoning and clinical skills.
Doctoring 2 is a year-long course in the second year in which students build off their experience in Doctoring 1. The course is structured in case-based small groups that allow for clinical interviews with a faculty member or a standardized patient so students can learn and practice advanced communication skills and hypothesis-driven data gathering and physical examinations, including advanced clinical exam maneuvers. There will be a strong emphasis on clinical reasoning and both identifying and mitigating cognitive biases. Students will refine and expand their case presentation and note-writing skills and will learn to use the electronic medical record. Cases will promote integration of foundational and social science topics and provide an opportunity for self-directed learning. At the end of each session, students will identify learning needs related to the case and each will take a topic to research. The following week, students will teach their classmate about the topic they researched to further the group’s understanding of the case. Students will have a variety of additional simulation sessions and standardized patient interviews to further their skills. They will continue their clinical placements with a longitudinal preceptor in the fall and will return to the hospital during the winter/spring to further advance their clinical skills in preparation for their clinical clerkships. Students will further their teamwork skills and competence in building a therapeutic alliance with patients and will reflect on topics surrounding professionalism, ethics, and professional identify formation. This course is a merger of the previously offered Integrated Problems 2 and Introduction to Clinical Medicine 2 courses and is designed to deliberately integrate clinical reasoning and clinical skills.
The curriculum described below applies to the four-year program.
First year
The emphasis is on normal structure and function (anatomy and physiology). The majority of the first-year curriculum is delivered as an integrated Principles Integrating Sciences and Medicine (PrISM) curriculum, including the following modules:
- Molecular Foundations of Medicine
- Cellular Foundations of Medicine
- Body Structures
- Neuroscience
- Genomic Medicine & Immunology
- Cardiovascular System
- Respiratory System
- Renal System
- Gastrointestinal System & Nutrition
- Endocrine & Reproductive Systems
In addition to the PrISM curriculum, students are also required to take:
- Essentials of Public Health
- Human Behavior in Medicine
- Doctoring 1
Second year
The focus shifts to abnormalities in structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology). The majority of the second year material is delivered as an integrated Disease & Therapy (DRx) Curriculum, including the following modules:
- Foundations
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiovascular
- Pulmonary
- Rheumatology
- Renal
- Gastrointestinal
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology/Nutrition
- Reproduction
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Dermatology
In addition to the DRx Curriculum, students are also required to take:
- Doctoring 2
Third year
This is the core clerkship year. Students complete their initial clinical rotations, participating in active ambulatory and inpatient practices on major teaching services:
- Medicine—8 Weeks
- Surgery—8 Weeks
- Family Medicine—6 Weeks
- Obstetrics/Gynecology—6 Weeks
- Pediatrics—6 Weeks
- Psychiatry—6 Weeks
- Neurology—4 Weeks
- Third-Year Elective (Radiology, Emergency Medicine)—4 Weeks
- The Enrichment office also offers a limited number of research electives that are available to students during the third-year elective block.
Students work with house officers and attending physicians in the care of a broad range of patients and clinical conditions through a series of required and elective clinical blocks.
Fourth year
In the fourth year, students complete advanced clinical rotations in geriatrics and home care, a sub-internship in the specialty of their choice, and one selective (ambulatory medicine or a surgical subspecialty). The third and fourth years combined include a minimum of 24 weeks of elective time with opportunities to pursue clinical and basic science research, as well as independent study programs.
Study Abroad and Research
Many students choose to spend some of this time at other institutions, either in the US or abroad in BUSM’s very active International Health program.
BUSM is a major research institution and students may return to research interests they have pursued in the past, or try research for the first time. Stipends are available for those rising second-year students who wish to undertake a summer research fellowship.
