Overview

Overview of the Undergraduate Medical Education Program at Memorial

The Undergraduate Medical Education Program is a four-year course of studies leading to the degree of M.D.

The first two years of medical studies comprise the preclerkship phase of the curriculum. Basic medical sciences are taught primarily in the first year of medical studies. Upon completion of this course, the integrated study of disease course commences. The course includes an interdisciplinary study of all major bodily systems. In addition, the student learns about the major diseases and their manifestations as preparation for participation in the clinical clerkship.

During both the first and second years of medical studies, the students undertake instruction in community medicine and clinical skills. At the end of the second year, the student is expected to be able to take a history, perform a thorough physical examination and to derive a logical diagnosis.

Instruction in the pre-clerkship phase is delivered through a mixture of lectures, small group tutorials and clinical skills sessions. Two two-week rotations in rural and family medicine sites are mandatory portions of the progam.

In the last two years of the MD program, the student alternates through the major specialties in hospital and community settings. In this two-year portion of the curriculum, the student participates in the clinical care team and begins to assume the responsibilities which are associated with the care of patients.

In the final year of studies students have the opportunity to select electives of interest to them. To meet the licencing requirements in Canada, students in their final year of studies also sit the examinations set by the Medical Council of Canada.

Students in the undergraduate medical education program will have frequent contact with two administrative offices within the Faculty of Medicine. The Office of Student Affairs and Services provides many support services for students. The Undergraduate Medical Education Office provides administrative support and coordination for the education activities throughout the undergraduate medical education program.

The Pre-Clerkship Committee and the Pre-Clerkship Coordinator are responsible for management of the pre-clerkship phase of education while a similar Clerkship Committee and Clerkship Coordinator manage the clerkship phase of the undergraduate medical education program. The Undergraduate Medical Studies (UGMS) Committee is a standing committee of the Faculty of Medicine Faculty Council charged with the responsibility for setting policy for the undergraduate medical education program at Memorial. The UGMS Committee has several sub-committees involved with areas of interest such as Program Evaluation, Informatics and Educational Technology, and Assessment.