College Wide Programs
Curricular Events
Clinical Foundations of Medicine Course
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Genes to Society curriculum pairs the human anatomy course and clinical skills training in the Clinical Foundations of Medicine (CFM) as the first two courses of the medical school experience. In CFM, students work in their Colleges small group “molecules” of five students, along with their Colleges advisor to learn the following foundational elements of medical practice: physician-patient communication, building the medical history, performing a physical examination, working on a learning team, and understanding the attitudes and behaviors medical professionals. CFM faculty and staff appreciate the challenges students face in this early learning phase, and have designed the course as a gradual progression in skill-building and patient interaction.
Dialogues on Professional Growth
These small group advising sessions are held throughout all four years. The first session starts with Orientation Transition to Medical School and continues during each of the Topics in Medical Education (TIME) and Translational Science sessions. Sessions also occur during Transitions to the Wards (TTW) and Transition to Residency and Internship and Preparation for Life College (TRIPLE). Advisors facilitate student reflection on the impact that training experiences have on one’s sense of self, developing professional identity and understanding the health care setting. Students consider how complex experiences throughout their learning/training offer opportunities for personal and/or professional growth.
Milestone Events
Match Day: Year 4 Students — Third Friday in March
CAP advisers celebrate the success of fourth-year students on Match Day, as they learn where they will train in the next phase of their journey. Envelopes with their program match are delivered by their advisers, as the countdown to noon begins.
White Coat Ceremony: Year 1 Students – April 26, 2024
The school of medicine and CAP actively support students in their transformational journey to becoming physicians, and the White Coat Ceremony marks an important milestone on this path. The presentation and cloaking of the white coat — –symbolic mantle of the medical profession – confers a commitment to the cherished values of being a physician: humanism, compassion, altruism, leadership, excellence and devotion to the well-being of others.
Many of the students from the class participate in planning this event over several months along with the director and administrator of the Colleges Advisory Program. This celebration is one of the highlights of the year for students and their families and takes place in the spring.
Graduation: Year 4 Students – May
CAP advisers celebrate the full circle with their graduating fourth years at Convocation. Advisors hood the M.D. candidates at this very special capstone ceremony.
Community Building Social Events
College Induction Ceremonies — August
Faculty and student leaders plan an evening of activities to welcome the incoming year one students in each College. It’s an opportunity for new students to meet faculty advisers and upper classmates.
College Olympics — October
The Olympics combines friendly competition and college spirit building, as students participate in a wide range of activities — from dodgeball to dance and anything you can imagine in between. It is a time for students bond across colleges and vertically, across years, to get to know classmates and to create memories.
College Halloween Party — October
An opportunity for college-wide bonding, featuring food, games and costumes.
Holiday Party — December
Students from all Colleges, along with faculty and staff, come together to celebrate by taking part in various activities, such as a festive photo-booth, cookie decorating, games, making ornaments, dancing and singing. Some colleges choose to sponsor a family for the holidays or make holiday cards for those in nursing homes. It’s a good time of year for everyone to come together.
End-of-Year Celebration — June
An opportunity for collegewide bonding, featuring food, games and celebration.
Career Advising Events
Road to Residency Series — Year round
A series of programs that are offered to each class to inform/preview the next steps in navigating the residency application process. This informative series is cosponsored by the Office of Medical Student Affairs. Session topics include: Preview of the components of the residency application process for second-year students: Approaching High Stakes Exams, Marketing Yourself, Balance and Sacrifice, Overview of the Residency Application Process for third-year students; and Navigating the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program.
Applying for Residency; Year 3 Students — March
Year three students learn about the decision-making/application process, including discussion of preparing a personal statement; best practices for asking for a letter of recommendation; and developing a timeline for preparing application materials. CAP then coordinates specialty-specific programs so students can learn specialty specific information regarding the application process from Program Directors in all fields.
Mock Interview Program; Year 4 Students — September
An informative kickoff evening to help fourth year students prepare for residency interviews with a resident and faculty panel discussion framed around student questions. CAP then coordinates 2 practice mock interviews for each student with faculty/alumni in their chosen field. Students receive formative feedback from their mock interviews so they are polished and confident for the real thing.
Financial Wellness Advising Series — Year round
CAP collaborates with faculty from the Carey Business school to offer a series of seminars related to financial wellness. Topics include: budgeting, asset acquisition, and financial planning.
College-Specific Programs — Year round
Each of the four colleges elect a leadership board each year who organize and execute college specific programming. Under student leadership, this programming includes social events like teatime in the college space and happy hours to enhance vertical integration. Academic chair leaders arrange peer advising events like big sib little sib programming and student panels to discuss approaches to a given course or clerkship. Community service activities are also planned by individual college student leaders. All of these events enhance vertical integration across classes and create a sense of home for each student. Each college has a dedicated multipurpose suite in the Armstrong Education Building which serves as the home for each of the four colleges.