About

Learning the Science of Medicine

In the first three months of medical school, Scientific Foundations of Medicine will emphasize principles fundamental to the science presented over the next four years.  This will include basic sciences, social sciences, public health, and information skills. 

Genes to Society will follow Foundations and run through the end of Year II.   This course will be divided into disciplines and will combine the traditional “normal” and “abnormal.”  Each discipline will be taught on the same framework:  genes, proteins, cells, tissues, organs, systems, individuals, communities, environments, and societies.  This framework allows basic science to be taught using evidence-based medicine and a public health perspective.

Translational Intersessions in the clinical years will provide the opportunity for students to revisit basic science topics applicable to the clinical clerkships they have just completed.  Clerkship directors will collaborate with basic science faculty to develop a series of seminars linked to core clerkships, which model modern scientific inquiry of bench to bedside medicine.

Developing Clinical Skills:

Students will begin their patient-centered education immediately by learning clinical skills including interviewing, communication, and physical diagnosis in the course Clinical Foundations.

Concurrent with the start of Genes to Society in January of Year I, students will begin a Longitudinal Ambulatory Clerkship.  Students will spend one afternoon each week in an outpatient setting with a dedicated preceptor.  This course will also include didactic or web-based learning of common outpatient topics.

Directly prior to entering their clinical clerkships, students will have the six-week course Transition to Wards.  Transitions will include integrative problem-based learning modules to consolidate and reinforce lessons of the first two years, as well as introduce specific content in preparation for the clerkships.  This content will include ECGs, radiographs, clinical pathology, safety, pharmacy, information systems, and community resources. 

Translational Intersessions will also also be given six times during Genes to Society. Unlike the Intersessions in the clinical years, the Intersessions in Years I and II will provide week-long opportunities for students to break away from the organ-based classwork and focus on advanced clinical skills, simulation experiences, and areas of interest.

The Clinical Years

Basic Clinical Clerkships will begin in the spring of Year II.  Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology clerkships will be seven weeks long, preceded by a one-week integrated clerkship and followed by a one-week basic science intersession.  Neurology, Psychiatry, and Emergency Medicine will be four-week clerkships.  The benefits of this model are that it will provide a more structured cadence and allow students exposure to all core clerkships before Year IV, while maintaining student flexibility and choice.

In addition to the core clerkships, there will be a series of required Advanced Clerkships to be completed before graduation.  These will include a subinternship in Medicine, Surgery or Pediatrics, a chronic care clerkship (e.g., palliative care, rehabilitation, geriatrics), and a physiology-based or  technology-intensive clerkship.  In addition, students will have ample opportunities in Years III and IV to take electives of their choosing (e.g., Radiology, Urology, Orthopaedics, etc.).    

Professional Development

Foundations of Public Health and Ethics is a course that will occur October through December of Year I.  The course will cover social science domains within the field of public health as related to medicine.

Scholarly Concentrations will allow students to pursue in greater depth broad topics already covered in less depth in the curriculum.  Dedicated faculty will follow students in their chosen fields through the first two years.  Scholarly Concentrations will be designed to integrate with summer activities and provide defined opportunities for students to pursue advanced degrees from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Graduate School.  Possible topics for Scholarly Concentrations are basic translational investigation, clinical translational investigation, health policy, public health, and medical humanities.

Transition to Residency and Internship/Preparation for Life (TRIPLE) will be the final course experience prior to graduation.  The goal of TRIPLE  is to provide preparation for residency and life.  Practical topics in preparation for residency will include Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), procedure simulations, teamwork skills, advanced communication skills (e.g., informed consent, breaking bad news, admitting mistakes, and personal safety).   Discussion regarding issues outside of residency will include leadership training, emotional health, career guidance, and managing finances.

Timeframe

The GTS curriculum was implemented in the fall of 2009.