Pre-Clerkship Phase

The first eighteen months of the curriculum focus on providing students with a foundation in the basic and clinical sciences and the art of medical practice. The integrated course curriculum includes eight master courses (Introduction to the Profession, Scientific Foundations, Genes and Development, Attacks and Defenses, Homeostasis, Energy and Metabolism, Connection to the World, and Across the Lifespan); four longitudinal courses (Professional Responsibility, Populations and Methods, Human Anatomy, and Scientific Inquiry); two skills based courses (the Clinical Skills course and Foundations of Patient Care), and the Transitions course.

The Clinical Skills course (CS) introduces students to the principles and skills of medical interviewing and physical examination. CS course sessions meet weekly and provide an opportunity for students to observe and develop clinical skills.

The Foundations of Patient Care course serves as the primary experience for students in the patient care setting. Students have weekly experiences in the patient care environment, practicing and getting feedback on their clinical skills with real patients under the close supervision of faculty tutors. For the first part of this course, students work in interprofessional teams with students from YSM Physician Associate Program. Students also participate in on-site learning with other health professionals in order to gain an appreciation for each professional’s role in the patient care team.

Requirements for Advancement in the Pre-Clerkship Phase

The Progress Committee will review all medical students prior to enrollment in the second year of the pre-clerkship curriculum. Criteria for advancement to the second-year pre-clerkship phase include:

1. Satisfactory completion of all first-year pre-clerkship courses as measured by passing the course or successfully completing remediation for each course. Students may repeat each course one time. Total time in the pre-clerkship phase cannot exceed 2.5 years, not including time for approved leaves of absence.
2. Continued satisfactory fulfillment of the YSM Professionalism Standards.
3. Continuing to meet YSM Technical, Non-Academic Standards.

Requirements for Advancement to the Clerkship Phase

The Progress Committee will review all medical students prior to beginning clinical clerkships. Criteria for advancement to the clerkship phase include:

1. Satisfactory progress in reaching the milestones for the pre-clerkship period in all nine YSM Competencies.
2. Satisfactory completion of all required pre-clerkship courses as measured by passing each course or successfully completing remediation for each course. Students may repeat each course one time. Total time in the pre-clerkship phase cannot exceed two-and-a-half years, not including time for approved leaves of absence.
3. Satisfactory performance on the P-OSCE or successfully completing remediation for those who do not pass.
4. Continued satisfactory fulfillment of the YSM Professionalism Standards.
5. Continuing to meet YSM Technical, Non-Academic Standards.

Clerkship Phase

The clerkship curriculum consists of four twelve-week integrated clerkship blocks:

• The Medical Approach to the Patient (Internal Medicine and Neurology)
• The Surgical Approach to the Patient (Surgery and Emergency Medicine)
• Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology
• Biopsychosocial Approach to Health (Ambulatory Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Adult and Pediatric Primary Care)

Clerkship scheduling will be arranged through the registrar in the Office of Student Affairs. There is no required order for taking clerkships, and there is no advantage to any particular order. Students are required to complete and pass all clerkships before proceeding to the Advanced Training Period. For clerkship descriptions, please see course listings under Medical Education.

Requirements for Advancement to the Advanced Training Period

The Progress Committee will review all medical students after completion of the Clinical Clerkships. Criteria for advancement to the advanced training period include:

1. Satisfactory progress in reaching the milestones for the clerkship period in all nine YSM Competencies.
2. Satisfactory completion of all required clinical clerkships as measured by passing the clerkships. Students may take a clerkship up to two times to fulfill the requirement. Total time in the clerkship phase cannot exceed two years, not including time for approved leaves of absence.
3. Passing the C-OSCE.
4. Continued satisfactory fulfillment of the YSM Professionalism Standards.
5. Continuing to meet YSM Technical, Non-Academic Standards.

Advanced Training Period

The final phase of the curriculum includes a time of maximum flexibility and choice for students to engage in a variety of clinical electives and subinternships, research, thesis preparation, the capstone course, and residency preparation.

The Office of Student Affairs holds informational meetings in the summer and fall of the third year (last six months of the clerkship period), and students meet with their advisers to discuss planning forr advanced clinical training and research.

Graduating students are required to submit a thesis plan to the Office of Student Research in the fall of their final year. Students must provide a tentative thesis title and the name of the thesis adviser as part of the thesis plan.

Students are required to schedule one four-week subinternship, thirty-three weeks of scheduled clinical electives or research time, and the mandatory capstone course in the spring of the fourth year. Students will also schedule time to study for and take the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK board examinations. Time is also provided to schedule residency interviews and preparation. For elective and subinternship listings and descriptions, please see course listings under Medical Education and individual departments.