Assistant Dean - Pre-Clerkships
Kelsey Baker, PhD
Assistant Dean for Pre-clerkships
Kelsey.Baker@utrgv.edu
Pre-clerkship Curriculum
Overview
The foundational 21-month first and second-year pre-clerkship curriculum allows students to spend the majority of their time developing critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. Through problem-based and self-directed learning students learn to apply their knowledge to clinical case experiences. This will be accomplished through:
- Problem-based learning in which students work in small groups (7-8 students with a faculty facilitator) to identify learning objectives, research the relevant topics, and discuss their findings with peers in order to resolve a clinical case.
- Self-directed learning where students can use a variety of resources and activities to support their individualized learning, including quizzes, online materials with embedded assessment permitting them to identify their learning gaps and review and retrieve material as necessary.
- Team-based learning with peers and students from other disciplines requires advanced preparation for discussion and interactions during class, at clinical sites, and in community activities.
- Interactive learning with state-of-the-art plastinates, with high fidelity mannequins and standardized patients.
Because students complete their pre-clerkship course work in 21 months, they have the opportunity and time to pursue research, take electives, engage in community service learning and/or study for the USMLE STEP 1 exam before the start of their third year.
Academic Cohorts
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Medicine | 4 Weeks |
| Molecules to Medicine | 8 Weeks |
| Attack and Defense | 9 Weeks |
| Cardiovascular and Respiratory | 11 Weeks |
| Renal & Male Reproduction | 6 Weeks |
| Health Systems Science Year 1 | 4 Weeks |
| Clinical Skills Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Language of Medicine Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Summer: Scholarly Activities/Preceptorship | |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 42 Weeks |
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal and Dermatology | 7 Weeks |
| Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 10 Weeks |
| Digestive Health & Nutrition | 8 Weeks |
| Endocrine and Female Reproduction | 7 Weeks |
| Clinical Skills Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Health Systems Science Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Language of Medicine Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 32 Weeks |
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Medicine | 4 Weeks |
| Molecules to Medicine | 9 Weeks |
| Attack and Defense | 10 Weeks |
| Digestive Health & Nutrition | 8 Weeks |
| Cardiovascular and Respiratory | 12 Weeks |
| Clinical Skills Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Health Systems Science Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Introduction to Medical Research and Discovery | Longitudinal |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 43 Weeks |
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Renal | 5 Weeks |
| Musculoskeletal and Dermatology | 7 Weeks |
| Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 10 Weeks |
| Endocrine & Reproduction | 9 Weeks |
| Clinical Skills Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Health Systems Science Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Self-Directed Study USMLE Step 1 | |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 31 Weeks |
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Medicine | 12 Weeks |
| Hematology & Oncology | 5 Weeks |
| Digestive Health & Nutrition | 9 Weeks |
| Cardiovascular | 6 Weeks |
| Respiratory | 4 Weeks |
| Renal | 5 Weeks |
| Clinical Skills Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Health Systems Science Year 1 | Longitudinal |
| Introduction to Medical Research and Discovery Y1 | Longitudinal |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 41 Weeks |
| Courses | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal and Dermatology | 7 Weeks |
| Mind, Brain, and Behavior | 10 Weeks |
| Endocrine & Reproduction | 9 Weeks |
| Introduction to Medical Research and Discovery Y2 | Longitudinal |
| Clinical Skills Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Health Systems Science Year 2 | Longitudinal |
| Self-Directed Study USMLE Step1 | 12 Weeks |
| Scheduled Weeks of Instruction | 38 Weeks |