Course Descriptions
ASMD 315. Introduction to Clinical Medicine I - Freshman Medical Class.
This course is designed to facilitate the integration of clinical medicine into the first year of the basic sciences curriculum. The course is divided into two segments. Segment I consists of a series of small group interactive sessions designed to provide students with learning experiences, patient contacts, and student interactive modalities that teach medical ethics, patient interviewing, HIV/AIDS, and family health behavior. In addition, a series of clinical correlations are taught in case-based sessions, to provide students with learning experiences in the areas of geriatrics and nutrition. Extensive case-based teaching is also used to correlate instruction in neuroscience, physiology, microanatomy, and cell biology.
ASMD 316. Introduction to Clinical Medicine - Freshman I Medical Class.
This two-semester course is designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to integrate the information of basic sciences and clinical sciences. ICM-1A provides a rational, practical, and thorough approach to gathering the data needed for patient care. Students are required to prepare written histories throughout the course, in order to allow the instructors to monitor their progress. Emphasis is placed on interviewing and examination skills as they relate to the development of a strong doctor-patient relationship. The students are evaluated during practice and skills-assessment sessions on topics discussed in class. Because medical terminology is essential for verbal and written communication with health care professionals, this section of the course prepares students for formal case presentations and gives them the skills needed to evaluate the medical literature. Medical terminology quizzes are administered on a regular basis. The multi-specialty preceptor sessions assist students in making their medical career choices.
ASMD 317. Introduction to Clinical Medicine -Freshman II Medical Class.
This course, offered during the second semester of the five-year curriculum, is designed to facilitate the integration of clinical medicine into the basic science years. It is presented in an interdisciplinary format to correlate the anatomies, neuroscience, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, and geriatrics. The purpose of this course is to provide a framework for students to learn the interviewing and physical examination skills necessary for competent patient care. This two-semester course also serves as an introduction to the concepts involved in clinical problem solving and consists of physical diagnosis, case-based teaching, and clinical correlations. Students are assigned to small groups to rotate through inpatient wards, ambulatory clinics, and specialty clinics. Apart from formal lectures and clinical exposure, demonstrations of the techniques for examining patients and supervised practice opportunities are provided to ensure students achieve an appropriate degree of proficiency. Emphasis is placed on attaining physical examination skills, history taking, and differential diagnosis.
ASMD 415. Introduction to Clinical Medicine II- Sophomore Medical Class.
This course is presented in an interdisciplinary format correlated with the organ system presentations of each of the second year disciplines. The purpose of this course is to assist students in integrating the basic and clinical sciences and to provide a framework for the students to learn the interviewing and physical examination skills necessary for competent patient care. This two-semester course also serves as an introduction to the concepts involved in clinical problem solving and consists of physical diagnosis, case-base teaching, and clinical correlations.
ASMD 402. Comprehensive Medical Review Program (CMRP).
Comprehensive Medical Review Program (CMRP) is an extended review of the basic sciences to prepare students to take the USMLE Step 1 examination. Students may enter the course based on their performance level and range of scores on previous examinations. After a pre-assessment, students receive on a daily basis that simulate USMLE Step 1 questions. A battery of discipline-specific comprehensive examinations and practice tests are also used to create measured outcomes that profile each participant's performance. Individual counseling takes place, using the performance profiles. The students receive feedback and direction for self-study. These performance profiles are also used by the skills-specialists to help students with the mechanics of taking tests. This customized approach assures students adequate time to address cognitive weaknesses, while providing a mechanism to measure proficiency in each area.
ASMD 405. Pathophysiology.
This course is offered in the sophomore year. Pathophysiologic discussions and clinical correlative case studies parallel instruction in each of the second-year disciplines. Emphasis is placed on broadening students' understanding of the relationship between basic disease mechanisms and clinical pathology. A knowledge of the clinical manifestations and natural history of disease fosters the development of therapeutic strategies, the sum of which comprises the scientific basis of clinical medicine.
ASMD 636. Clinical Management Elective.
This four-week clerkship offers the senior student experience as a medical educator. It assists the senior student in developing the teaching skills in the clinical and basic science setting. Principles of adult learning theory, effective teaching techniques, and evaluation of clinical performance, including effective methods of giving feedback to trainees are presented. There is emphasis on how to efficiently track physical diagnosis and clinical skills. This theory is put into practice by the participant in the elective, who serves as an instructor for freshman and/or sophomore students in physical diagnosis and interviewing, and also as an evaluator of their performance during standardized patient examinations. By serving as teachers and evaluators, students enhance their own clinical skills.
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