MS1 Curriculum Descriptions

The purpose of this module is to provide students with the fundamentals necessary to study human disease at an advanced level. Students will learn the basic structure and function of major organs at the same time as they practice the related physical exam and clinical skills in Doctoring. In addition, students will learn the basic biochemical, cellular, and physiological mechanisms that underlie the major classes of disease.

The Doctoring Program (Doctoring 1, 2, and 3) consists of 18 months of required preclinical instruction designed to teach the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors fundamental to the empathetic, competent, ethical, inter-professional, and humane physician. This program combines integrated instruction and assessment in clinical and communication skills with professional development. The use of standardized patients, simulation, PBL and preceptor experiences are fundamental to the instruction.

This course introduces the student to the basic clinical skills of interviewing a patient and conducting a comprehensive medical history. Students learn to perform a normal physical examination on a healthy adult and document patient encounters (comprehensive history and physical examination) in an organized, accurate manner. The student integrates their own experiences during the course with longitudinal theme content to illustrate ways in which a physician communicates respect, compassion, and empathy. The student applies knowledge obtained from the longitudinal themes including the treatment of special patient populations (geriatric, pediatric etc.) and they will have specific training in the interview of the psychiatric patient.

The Hematology and Introduction to Pathology (HIP) module begins with an introduction to basic principles underlying disease: cell injury, adaptation, cell death and the effects that these processes have on tissues and organs. This is followed by an introduction to neoplasia. The second portion of the HIP module focuses on hematologic disorders, including anemias, coagulation disorders, and thrombotic disorders and how these conditions are treated. Reactive white blood cell disorders and hematologic malignancies will also be presented.

The Cardiovascular Module focuses on expanding the concepts presented in Foundations and developing a knowledge base in pathology, pharmacology and clinical skills associated with the heart and vascular system. The emphasis is on management of cardiovascular disease including hypertension, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and both congenital and acquired cardiovascular defects. The concepts presented in this module are linked those presented during the subsequent pulmonary and renal modules to emphasize the tight integration of these organ systems.

This course begins with a review of pulmonary physiology from Foundations, followed by lung development and introduces radiologic imaging of lung structure. Students will study more in-depth lung physiology, and infectious and obstructive diseases of the lung in both adults and children. Students will be introduced to pathology, physiology, radiology and management of various acute critical conditions such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary embolism.

The Renal System Module covers the physiology defining normal renal function, clinical characteristics and pathology / pathophysiology of diseases of the kidney, and clinical disorders that result from failure of the kidney to function correctly. Students will learn to evaluate changes in fluid and electrolyte balance, mineral metabolism and glomerular function and renal clearance. The clinical implications of renal dysregulation/dysfunction will be explored.

During Doctoring 2 students begin to use the skills acquired in Doctoring 1. Students will interview, perform comprehensive and focused histories, and perform comprehensive physical exams to evaluate patients with diseases and symptoms. Students will document patient encounters in an organized manner. Student will be able to integrate clinical and basic science knowledge in order to: analyze basic laboratory results; develop a differential diagnosis; determine a basic science pathology and pathophysiology. The student will be able to integrate their own experiences during the course with longitudinal theme content to describe in depth at least two key lessons learned by attending an interprofessional patient safety meeting.