Medical School Courses

First- and Second-Year Courses

Bioethics

Coursework in bioethics is required for all medical students. Students in the Program for Integrated Learning (PIL) curriculum have bioethics resource sessions that are tied to individual patient cases throughout the pre-clinical curriculum. Students in the traditional curriculum (IFM) complete a bioethics course during their second year. The focus of the curriculum, whether PIL or IFM, is on providing a foundation in ethical analysis, knowledge about contemporary bioethics issues, and experience applying ethical reasoning to clinical cases. The pre-clinical curriculum includes small group discussions, audiovisuals, readings, and computer-based learning. Topics covered include informed decision making, confidentiality, professionalism, end of life, palliative care, clinical research, conflicts of interest, health-care allocation, health law and others. Further, to bridge the gap between classroom learning and bedside application, all students complete a half-day standardized patient encounter in medical ethics and communication skills during their third year.

Community and Preventive Medicine is offered to the PIL students during year 1 and year 2 in an integrated format through case-based learning. Family Medicine faculty lecture at resource sessions to supplement cases and also facilitate group problem-based learning sessions. Each case includes Patient as a Person learning topics specific to community and family medicine, preventive and occupational medicine and health systems financing.

Health Care Financing and Delivery reflects the College's strong commitment to creating physicians who are trained in clinical excellence and grounded in the complex political, financial, structural and legal context of our nation's medical care. This one-week immersion introduces health policy, health insurance payment methods, and the delivery and managed-care payment models currently shaping U.S. health care. The legal issues inherent to modern medicine are examined along with future trends that will impact the health-care system. The methodology and potential of quality analysis, medical informatics and evidence-based practice are highlighted.

Health Care Financing and Delivery is integrated into cases for the PIL students during year 1 and year 2. Specific resources and resource sessions supplement cases highlighting relevant issues in health policy and health systems financing.

Health Policy and Management Interest Group

The department sponsors an active student interest group that promotes a balanced awareness of the political, legal and fiscal issues associated with being a practicing physician in our society. The group sponsors presentations, offers in-depth journal club discussion, and disseminates information through a website and current topics email newsletter.

Principles of Medical Research: Biostatistics and Epidemiology / Evidence-Based Medicine

It is important for a modern physician to have developed the ability to read and interpret the medical literature. This requires a fundamental understanding of biostatistics, epidemiology and research design. Together with experience and clinical knowledge, these foundations allow a physician to practice evidence-based medicine.

In both the IFM and PIL curricula, department faculty members take primary responsibility for educating students in these important topics.

Little statistical background is assumed; therefore, basic concepts such as descriptive statistics, introductory hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and correlation and regression are taught. Calculations are minimized, except where needed for understanding, while concepts are emphasized. No statistical programs are used, since it is assumed that most physicians will not be analyzing data.

The basic concepts of epidemiology and research design are presented as well. These include epidemiological statistics (such as relative risks, incidence rates, and mortality rates), common study designs, bias and confounding, and clinical test statistics (such as sensitivity, and predictive values).

In the IFM curriculum the required course on these topics is Principles of Medical Research, currently taught at the end of the first year.

In the PIL curriculum, resource sessions are placed throughout the first two years of medical school to cover the relevant content. The total number of related class hours is less in PIL than in IFM because it is assumed that PIL students are reviewing and evaluating articles as part of their ongoing learning issue investigations.

Epidemiology Journal Club

In addition to the two required courses, the department also runs an epidemiology journal club, which provides transcript credit to students who attend at least six sessions and present one article.

Humanities Electives

Optional electives for medical students are offered in topics including History of Medicine, Medicine and Literature, Art and Medicine, Culture and Medicine, etc. Credit for these courses is offered as part of the Humanities Scholars Program, which awards certificates for completing coursework and a project. For more information please see the Medical Humanities website at http://webcampus.drexelmed.edu/MedHumanities.

Fourth Year

Clinical electives in family medicine and a family medicine pathway for fourth-year students are offered. Students interested in electives should contact the department.

Divisional courses and programs can be viewed using the webcampus site.