UICOM-R CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

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M1 Year at Urbana (32 weeks)
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
		Anatomy
		Physiology
		Introduction to Human Disease/Clinical Correlation Conferences
		Biochemistry
		Microbiology				Immunology
		Behavioral Sciences				Medical Statistics
		Genetics				Neuroscience
The M2 Year at Rockford (40 weeks)
				Pathology (120 hours)
		Basic		Pharmacology (120 hours)
		Sciences		Medical Microbiology (60 hours)
				Pathophysiology in Clinical Medicine (140 hours)
				University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (120 hours)
		Clinical		Essentials of Patient Care (100 hours)
		Sciences		Clinical Skills (120 hours)
The M3 Year at Rockford (48 weeks)
University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (One day per week)
Medicine (12 weeks)			12 week clerkships may in any order in either half of the year.
			Surgery (12 weeks)
						Ob/Gyn (8)
								Pediatrics (8)
8 week clerkships may be in any order in either half of the year.										Psychiatry (8)
The M4 Year at Rockford (36 weeks)
University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (One day per week)
Selectives (12 weeks)			Neurology, Selectives and Electives may be taken in any order.
Each Selective is 4 weeks.			Electives (20 weeks)
			Electives are 2 or 4 weeks each.					*N	*N = Neurology (4 wks)

The M2 Year at Rockford (40 weeks) *** For more detailed information on the M2 Year, see the M2 Section of this Handbook ***
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
		Basic Sciences		Pathology (120 hours)
				Pharmacology (120 hours)
				Medical Microbiology (60 hours)
				Pathophysiology in Clinical Medicine (140 hours)
		Clinical Sciences		University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (120 hours)
				Essentials of Patient Care (100 hours)
				Clinical Skills (120 hours)

BASIC SCIENCES: The M2 basic science curriculum is divided into two distinct periods: A Cornerstone Period that contains introductory material for each of the four Basic Science courses and a Knowledge-Building Period that features integrated scheduling of the basic science courses according to organ-systems.

Pathology presents the fundamental elements of general, systemic and clinical pathology. These elements are integrated in a unified whole in order to enhance each student's understanding of organic processes in various disease states. Pharmacology begins with the basic concepts of drug action and determinants of drug absorption, distribution, elimination and toxicity. This conceptual framework is then elucidated for each of the major use categories of drugs. These categories are presented on an organ system or disease category basis. For each category, a few prototype or model agents are selected for extensive study. Medical Microbiology expands the basic concepts covered in the M1 year by integrating basic and clinical science aspects of Microbiology in an organ systems approach. Key organisms plus certain aspects of epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis are stressed. Treatment of disease will be discussed only on selected topics. Pathophysiology in Clinical Medicine (PCM) bridges the basic sciences and clinical medicine by integrating the study of normal organ system functions with the pathophysiology of major disease states. PCM uses several innovative teaching methods including problem based learning and community oriented student projects.

CLINICAL SCIENCES: Each M2 student begins a Primary Care Experience at one of three University Primary Care Clinics (UPCC). M2 students begin to assimilate basic diagnostic and therapeutic principles as well as master the fundamentals of the physical examination. Students assume greater patient care responsibilities through their M3 and M4 Years and continue the Primary Care Experience until graduation. Essentials of Patient Care (EPC) compliments the UPCC experience by placing emphasis on the four aspects of the doctor-patient relationship - understanding the patient, personal growth as a professional doctor, the dynamics of the doctor-patient interaction and the effects of larger social systems on the doctor-patient relationship – and by introducting students to the skill of interviewing (history taking). Clinical Skills (CS) is a multidisciplinary course designed to help M2 students begin to master the art of the physical examination and clinical problem solving. In the first half of the year, CS provides the basic building blocks on which to build a complete and efficient physical examination and to learn the basic vocabulary, anatomy and examination techniques for each body system. In the second half of the year, CS expands to include direct patient contact. CS focuses on the acquisition of the skills necessary to collect patient information and to synthesize and integrate the data in a meaningful manner.

EXAMINATIONS: Course grades are based on four interdisciplinary Progressional Examinations, plus faculty evaluation of student performance in the several other types of exercises. In addition, M2 students must take USMLE Step 1 before beginning the M3 Year.

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The M3 Year at Rockford (48 weeks)
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (one day per week)
Medicine (12 weeks)			12 week clerkships may be in any order in either half of the year
			Surgery (12 weeks)
						Ob / Gyn (8)
								Pediatrics (8)
8 week clerkships may be in any order in either half of the year										Psychiatry (8)

REQUIREMENTS: The M3 year consists of eight-week clerkships in Obstetrics / Gynecology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, plus 12 week clerkships in Medicine and Surgery. The Longitudinal, Ambulatory Primary Care Experience continues with one day per week spent at a UPCC and forms the Family Medicine clerkship. M3 instructional methods are a blend of didactic presentations, teaching rounds, case-based problem solving, computer-aided instruction, computer case simulations, student presentations, patient case discussions and seminars. Instruction and evaluation are based on faculty-approved learning objectives.

UNIVERSITY PRIMARY CARE CLINICS (UPCC): In anticipation of the shifts in the delivery of medical care from hospital settings to ambulatory settings, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford instituted a longitudinal, ambulatory primary care experience to enhance the undergraduate medical training of all students. The three University Primary Care Clinics (UPCCs) provide ambulatory, primary care training and deliver health care to the communities in which they are located. Students spend one day per week at one of the UPCCs from the fall of their M2 year until graduation. This experience forms the Family and Community Medicine clerkship.

Components of the Family Medicine clerkship include:

a) Patient Care

b) Principles of Family Medicine

c) Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Public Health

d) Behavioral science and psychosocial aspects of medical care

The primary care focus of the Family Medicine clerkship is to teach students the comprehensive, continuing care of patients. The ambulatory setting of the clerkship complements the hospital based training of the other clerkships and supplements the instruction received in ambulatory clinics dedicated to medical specialties. The longitudinal nature of the clerkship offers several unique opportunities to Rockford students. The ongoing care of the same patients allows the student to more fully develop and practice the interpersonal skills necessary for effective doctor-patient relationships. This continuity of care allows students to become better acquainted with patients, which facilitates student understanding of the psychosocial context of health and disease. It also permits students to more fully appreciate the progressive and degenerative nature of common chronic disease states. This 30 month experience also allows UPCC faculty to offer students ongoing, individualized attention, and formative feedback so that each student can progress at his/her own pace.

The Family Medicine clerkship has become a critical component of clinical training in Rockford. It serves as a developmental axis around which students build a firm knowledge base of clinical science, acquire the skills of a competent clinician, gain insight into the psychosocial dimension of disease and develop the professional attitudes of a caring and compassionate physician. The clerkship forms a continuum with the preclinical courses and with the concurrent clinical clerkships and electives.

The M4 Year at Rockford (36 weeks)
Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
University Primary Care Clinic / Family Medicine (one day per week)
Selectives (12 weeks)									Discretionary Time
Each selective is 4 wks.			Electives (20 weeks)						(8 weeks)
			Electives are 2 or 4 weeks each.					*N	*Neurology (4 weeks)
Selectives, Electives, Neurology, Discretionary Time taken in any Order.

REQUIREMENTS: The M4 year includes a four-week required clerkship in Neurology, three four-week selectives chosen from the following seven medical specialties (Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Advanced Internal Medicine in an Ambulatory setting, Nephrology and Pulmonology), and 20 weeks of electives. There are also eight weeks of discretionary time which students may use for study, residency interviews or vacation. Students must also pass Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in order to graduate.