Curriculum
The medical student education program at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University consists of a Phase 1 (pre-clerkship) curriculum followed by a Phase 2 (core and advanced clerkship) curriculum. We implemented a restructured medical student Phase 1 curriculum in the 2020-2021 academic year, reflecting current national priorities in undergraduate medical education and established best practices for learner engagement.
The Phase 1 curriculum is a single-pass organ systems model, integrating normal structure and function with disease states, diagnostic strategies, and patient management. Clinical skills are taught in the Doctoring course which runs throughout Phase 1. Patient interviewing skills, physical exam maneuvers, point of care ultrasound and clinically important topics such as social determinants of health, patient safety, quality improvement, biases in medicine and patient cantered care are introduced in our Doctoring course and integrated throughout the curriculum. Lecture hours were reduced in favor of active learning modalities, with increased use of flipped classroom, simulation, case-based discussion, and self-directed learning. During Phase 1 the students also have the opportunity to take electives in the humanities, clinical disciplines, or research.
The Phase 1 curriculum was shortened by approximately six weeks, allowing the Phase 2 (clerkship) curriculum more time for electives; independent study; a new required scholarly project in the fourth year; and a capstone course. The Phase 2 changes are intended to enhance preparation for residency.
In April 2022, a restructured Phase 2 of the curriculum was implemented, and Transition Courses were introduced at key points in the educational program: Transition to Medical School, Transition to Phase 2, Transition to Phase 3 and Transition to Residency. These Pass/Fail courses contain curricular content that specifically addresses learning needed for all courses within the upcoming phase or in the case of the Transition to Residency course, needed for day one of residency. The Transition to Phase 2 course will prepare students for all the upcoming core clinical clerkships such as the role they will play as members of the care team, how to approach learning in a clinical setting and about how their performance will be assessed. They will also learn important skills such as effective use of the electronic health record and how to communication with other members of the health care team. In addition, Intersessions Course were introduced before a specific clerkship or set of clerkships and are designed to prepare student to successfully engage in learning in the setting of specific clinical disciplines. Students participate in learning sessions focused on discipline-relevant content and engage with topics from specific longitudinal threads that are especially relevant in the upcoming core clerkships. This allows students to apply and reinforce learning as they encounter opportunities to examine topics such as social determinants of health, patient safety, and cultural competency as they participate in the care of patients.
Phase 2 of the curriculum includes the Transition to Phase 2 course, 4 Intersession course, and 36 weeks of required core clerkships in family medicine; internal medicine; neurology; obstetrics and gynecology; pediatrics; psychiatry; and, surgery, 4 weeks of scholarly work, a two-week career exploration rotation, and 2-6 weeks of elective time.
Phase 3 (fourth-year) of curriculum starts with the Transition to phase 3 course and is structured to give medical student advanced patient care responsibilities through taking care of undifferentiated patients in the emergency room, treating severe illnesses in critical units and having them take a more active role in the work-up and management of patients and help students explore areas of interest in greater detail. This is accomplished through the required clerkships in critical care and emergency medicine; and a sub-internship either in medicine, surgery, family medicine, obstetric & gynecology, or pediatrics; 28 weeks of electives; a scholarly project and the Transition to Residency course.
Explore the Curriculum
- Phase 1 – Single pass organ systems model, integrating normal structure and function with disease states and the Culture and Practice of Medicine
- Year 3 - Core Clinical Clerkships
- Year 4 - Advanced Clinical Clerkships and Electives
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