SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S Mission and Objectives

Mission

The School of Medicine of Meharry Medical College pledges to offer a unique, quality, health science education to students of diverse origins, especially African Americans, with emphasis on addressing underserved populations. In addition, the School of Medicine will teach and monitor excellence in the delivery of primary or holistic care, provide a foundation for life-long learning, and conduct research relevant to the health of the disadvantaged.

Goals and Objectives of the Program

The educational outcomes/objectives of the program of medical education leading to the M.D.degree emphasizes educational excellence, patient care, communication, professionalism, primary care, technology, and life-long learning. The candidate for the M.D. degree will be required to show competence in each of these areas, as follows:

Educational Excellence

•  Demonstrate the acquisition and a thorough understanding of basic and clinical science knowledge in relationship to the normal and abnormal biological and physiological processes as applied to the practice of medicine.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of ethical, social, cultural, psychological, and economic factors that affect the management, prognosis, and prevention of disease as applied to clinical care.

Patient Care

• Demonstrate clinical proficiency and the ability to use diagnostic technologies by obtaining a comprehensive medical history, performing a thorough physical examination, and formulating a differential diagnosis with appropriate course of therapy and management plan.

Professionalism

• Demonstrate the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge, through the evaluation of medical literature in relationship to the practice of medicine and medical research.
• Demonstrate knowledge of issues utilizing universal standard precautions in patient care when promoting health and disease prevention.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply appropriate ethical and legal principles and professional conduct as they relate to patient care.

Primary Care

• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary to perform as generalist clinician.

Technology

• Demonstrate computer literacy as applied to and utilized in internal and external outcome assessments, certification/licensure examinations, and patient care.

Life-long Learning

• Demonstrate continuing clinical proficiency and competency in medical practice through the utilization of acquired knowledge, and skills resulting from the process of life-long learning.