Pre-Clerkship Curriculum

An 18 month pre-clerkship curriculum places foundational knowledge in the context of the practice of medicine and the Rutgers RWJMS 33 Core Clinical Conditions. Clinical cases will be thread throughout the 18 months. Clinical experiences, simulation, objective structured cases, and time for reflection and independent study will follow the foundational and integrated systems courses.

Clinical experience is introduced early in the first year through the Physicianship course and Physicianship Development and Practice blocks. Measurable course objectives and benchmarks have been developed for students in Pre-Clerkship and Clerkship/Advanced phases of the curriculum. A variety of instructional methods, laboratories, and active learning approaches will be utilized throughout the curriculum. Clinical training is enhanced through the use of standardized patients, Objective Structured Clinical Exercises (OSCE), simulations, and individual observation and feedback by the more than 2,400 full time and volunteer faculty. All educational experiences undergo rigorous evaluation by students and faculty throughout the four years.
We provide support for students through wellness programs, meetings and seminars with educational psychologist, peer-tutoring, and many educational resources.

Academic Calendar Academic Calendar
→ Pre-Clinical, Non-Credit Electives

The pre-clerkship curriculum contains six blocks with each block composed of the courses presented below.

Block 1: Physicianship (Physicianship Course; Physicianship Development and Practice Sessions)

Block 2: Foundations in Medical Sciences (Cells to Structure; Principles of Pharmacology and Disease and Defense)

Block 3: Integrated Systems 1 (Nutrition and Metabolism; Cardiovascular System; Pulmonary & Renal Systems)

Block 4: Integrated Systems 2 (Endocrine and Reproductive Systems; Gastrointestinal System)

Block 5: Brain and Behavior (Nervous Systems, Nervous System and Behavior)

Block 6: Physicianship 2 (Physicianship Development and Practice Sessions)



Block 1 & Block 6: Physicianship

Physicianship


The Physicianship course introduces students to the profession. It will cover professionalism, medical ethics, humanism in medicine, patient-centered care, population health, health disparities, clinical skills, evidence-based medicine, and health systems science. The course leads off the M1 year and continues with Physicianship Practice and Development sessions over 3 years. Physicianship Practice and Development sessions will reinforce the basic and clinical sciences presented in the preceding courses and provide clinical experiences related to the content learned to date.

Block 2: Foundations in Medical Sciences

Cells to Structure

The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the scientific basis of medicine by integrating foundational concepts that span disciplines such as genetics, molecular & cellular biology, histology, and anatomy with health and disease. Students will begin with exploring the molecular basis of genetic disorders, and integrating cell structures and organization with function. Students will further explore the gross and developmental anatomy of the musculoskeletal, peripheral nervous, gastrointestinal, reproductive and cardiopulmonary systems. Study will range from the cellular to gross anatomic levels and will include cadaveric dissection of the back, extremities, thorax, and abdomen. Common clinical cases will serve as the basis for discussion ranging from the basic science of these structures to the patient presenting with related pain and/or dysfunction.

Principles of Pharmacology and Mechanisms of Disease and Defense

This course covers fundamental knowledge and key basic science concepts needed by physicians to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions for patients presenting with programs in any organ system. This course covers the content areas of:

· Basic Concepts of Pharmacology

· Immunity in Health and Disease

· Hematopoiesis and Neoplasia

· Etiologic Basis of Infectious Diseases

Block 3: Integrated Systems 1

Metabolism and Nutrition

This course explores the nutritional requirements of the body and correlates nutrition with mechanisms of cellular metabolism that are vital for human health. Specifically, pathways important for generating energy and building blocks essential for maintaining homeostasis are examined, along with how these processes are tightly regulated by metabolic hormones. The impact of dysregulation of cellular metabolism on health and associated diseases such as diabetes and obesity are also examined. As in all the courses, students are guided to develop the necessary skills to be interdisciplinary thinkers and life-long learners who understand and interpret molecular, biochemical and clinical information leading to improved evidence-based medicine.

Cardiovascular Systems

The Cardiovascular Systems course will cover the medical sciences and the clinical aspects, including pathophysiology, of the cardiovascular system. The overarching goal of this course is to demonstrate the interdependence of the heart and vascular systems and the importance of each in human health and disease. Mastery of electrophysiology, muscle physiology, and several other structure-function relationships, from the molecular-cellular level to the gross anatomical level is required to understand the complexities of integrated cardiovascular function.

The course focuses discussion of common presenting symptoms and physical findings characteristic of the cardiac and vascular organ systems. The course will cover risk factors for disease as well as pathophysiology, pathology, diagnostic and treatment strategies for many disease which affect the cardiovascular system. Key presenting features for each disease will be emphasized. Drugs that are commonly used to treat disorders of the cardiovascular system will be discussed with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, organ system effects, and major toxicities. Anatomy, histology, and embryology studies are integrated within this systems-based course so that students may explore and relate structure to function, disease, and treatment. When appreciate, the clinical uses will be discussed in context of specific disease processes by both clinical and basic science faculty.

Pulmonary & Renal Systems

The Pulmonary and Renal Systems course will cover the medical sciences and an introduction to the clinical aspects, including pathophysiology, of the pulmonary and renal systems. The course will provide a solid foundation of knowledge about common diseases of the pulmonary system. The course will cover risk factors of disease, pathophysiology, pathology, diagnostic (e.g., pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases) and treatment strategies for a variety of pulmonary diseases. Key presenting features for each disease will be emphasized. Drugs that are commonly used to treat disorders of the lung will be discussed with emphasis on their mechanism of action, organ system effects, and major toxicities.

This course will also provide a solid foundation of knowledge regarding renal physiology and pathophysiology, Common disorders of renal tubular function that disrupt systemic water, electrolyte, and acid-base homeostasis will also be examined, in addition to congenital disorders of the kidney and tumors of the kidney, ureters and bladder. Small group activities utilizing self-directed learning in a case-based format will be used to reinforce clinical concepts of renal pathophysiology.

Block 4: Integrated Systems 2

Endocrine and Reproductive Systems

The primary focus of this course is the physiology and pathophysiology of the endocrine and reproductive systems. Additionally, the course will cover hormonal regulation. Case-based learning sessions will reinforce the essentials of endocrine and reproductive physiology and pathophysiology and emphasize key features for differential diagnoses. Furthermore, drugs that are commonly used to treat endocrine and reproductive disorders will be discussed in terms of their metabolism, mechanisms of action, organ system effects, and major toxicities.

In the Physicianship Practice and Development session, we will conduct interdisciplinary sessions on sexual health, sexual behavior and reproductive diseases that will serve as a capstone to the course. There will be panel discussions, small and large group series, and other educational experiences that examine these issues more closely to that we can understand how they impact patient care.

Gastrointestinal Systems

This course will allow students to build, using an integrative approach, a foundation of understating of the structure-function relationships which control GI function. The gastrointestinal disease course will begin with a focused review of normal anatomy and physiology followed by a discussion of the cardinal manifestations of GI disease. Specific attention will be devoted to the organ-based pathophysiology and pathology of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine as well as the hepatobiliary system and pancreas, emphasizing the cardinal symptoms in each of these organ systems in the pediatric and adult patient. In addition, therapeutic and pharmacologic interventions are discussed in terms of their metabolism, mechanism of action, organ system effects, and major toxicities. Anatomy, histology, and embryology studies are integrated within this systems-based course so that students may explore and relate structure to function, disease, and treatment.

Block 5: Brain, & Behavior

Nervous Systems

The Nervous Systems component of the course covers brain anatomy and function as well as the clinical neuroscience underlying normal function, with an emphasis on understanding the basis of the neurological exam. Students learn the basic anatomical structures and cellular mechanisms by which central nervous system controls sensation, perception, behavior, executive functions, homeostasis and movement. A wet laboratory experience is included to familiarize students with brain structures and corresponding neuroimaging. The major disorders, disease and conditions related to the field of neurology are covered. For each class of disease, the principles and pathophysiological mechanisms are covered, together with pathology, symptomatology, and major drug classes used in treatment.

Nervous Systems and Behavior

The overall objective is to familiarize medical students with the principles of normal and abnormal function of the central nervous system. Nervous Systems and Behavior covers Behavioral Science, Psychiatry, child development and the mental status exam. The major psychiatric disorders are introduced with an emphasis on recognizing major features or the disorder and then distinguishing between related disorders. Treatment approaches are covered for each condition, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.

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