Orientation to medicine

Course goals

The course will provide freshman medical students with an interactive, patient-centered, contextual learning experience for the purpose of fostering professionalism (excellence in scholarship, caring and compassion, integrity and responsibility) from the time of matriculation.

Course objectives

• Students will learn to appreciate that a comprehensive understanding of basic and clinical biomedical science facilitates the delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Students will learn the importance of the medical interview and its purpose in the diagnostic process.
• Students will learn the importance of the physical exam and its purpose in the diagnostic process.
• Students will learn to recognize barriers to effective communication and how those barriers can negatively impact patient care.
• Students will learn to appreciate the necessity of unconditional positive regard, trust and confidentiality in effective physician-patient interactions.
• Students will learn how to develop collegial relationships with peers, faculty and other health care professionals.
• Students will learn how to appreciate the physician’s role in the delivery of integrated, comprehensive, whole person care.

Course description

The Orientation to Medicine course provides students with an interactive, patient-centered contextual learning experience for the purpose of fostering professionalism. The six-week course is divided between two weeks in summer quarter and four weeks in spring quarter of the freshman year. Students will observe and participate in patient care, will work collaboratively with peers and faculty in small groups, and will discuss assigned readings as they relate to integrated, whole person care.