Phase II : Medical

Phase II : Medical – Two Academic Years

During the first two years, aspects of all the major clinical disciplines are introduced.  Most of the teaching occurs in the college, with one day a week available for patient and doctor sessions in the hospital.

There are nine blocks (courses) covered:

FDS-301    Foundation Studies

MSK-302   Musculoskeletal Sciences and Substance Abuse

RES-311   Respiratory Sciences

HEM-312  Hematology

CVS-313   Cardiovascular Sciences

NVB-401   Neurosciences, Vision and Behavior

GNE-411   Endocrinology, Nutrition and Gastroenterology

RRS-402   Renal, Reproductive and Sexual Health

OPC-412   Oncology and Palliative Care

In addition to these blocks, a four-week elective is given during the summer after the second year, and a Medical Research block runs longitudinally throughout these two academic years.

Self-directed learning represents the core of the program and is supported by scheduled sessions:

• Three problem-based learning sessions (each 1.5 hours)
• Up to five lectures per week related to the weekly problem – issues relevant to all themes but with an emphasis on basic sciences
• Two basic and clinical science sessions (1.5 hours each)
• Two patient and doctor sessions in the hospital (1.5 hours each)
• A community and doctor session, a personal and professional development session, or a joint session (1.5 hours)

Problem-based learning tutorials and the patient and doctor sessions at the hospital are central features of the educational process in the first two years. Basic and clinical sciences sessions usually offer opportunities to gain hands-on practical experience and to learn from images, models, slides and museum or dissected specimens.

There is a major focus on the critical appraisal of the evidence that underpins medical decision-making. Students learn the skills of finding and evaluating relevant literature, and applying these skills in the diagnosis and management of individual patients.