Program Overview

Overview of the MD Program at Penn State College of Medicine

The MD program at Penn State College of Medicine is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the foundations of medical care, including biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, health systems science, and health humanities. The program is divided into three phases: Foundations, Clinical Core, and Discovery & Residency Prep.

Phase I: Foundations

• The Foundations curriculum is designed to integrate foundational principles of medical care, including biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, health systems science, and health humanities.
• Students engage in a variety of instructional formats, including small-group learning, problem-based learning, large group interactive sessions, lecture, clinical skills learning with standardized patients and authentic patients, simulations, and lab.
• The phase includes several courses, such as:
  • Transition to Medical School (TRANS 711)
  • Scientific Principles of Medicine (SPM 711)
  • Foundations of Health Humanities (HMN 711)
  • Foundations of Health Systems Science (SHS 711)
  • Foundations of Patient-Centered Care (FPCC 711)
  • Host Defense/Host Response (HDHR 711)
  • Cardiovascular Medicine (CAR 711)
  • Respiratory Medicine (RESP 712)
  • Health Systems Science in Context (SHS 712)
  • Humanities in Context (HMN 717)
  • Renal Medicine (REN 712)
  • Form and Function and Anatomy (FORM 712)
  • Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology and Nutrition and Anatomy (GI 712)
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
  • Medical Student Research (MSR 711) and Global Health (GH 747)

Phase II: Clinical Core

• Students all complete the same eight core clerkships, an elective, and a Humanities course, in blocks or longitudinally.
• In addition, all students must take the "Systems-Conscious and Humanistic Medicine" course before progressing to Phase III.
• The phase includes several courses, such as:
  • Science of Health Systems (SHS 721)
  • Foundations of Patient-Centered Care (FPCC 721)
  • Endocrinology/Reproductive Medicine and Anatomy (ENREP 721)
  • Communication (HMN 723)
  • Neural and Behavioral Science and Anatomy (NBS 721)
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
  • USMLE Study and Consolidation (CONSD 722)
  • Transition to Clerkships (TRANS 732)
  • Clerkships
  • Humanities Across Clerkships (HMN 731)
  • Systems-Conscious and Humanistic Medicine (MDADM 744)
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
  • USMLE Study

Phase III: Discovery and Residency Prep

• This phase readies students for success in their residencies.
• All students must complete two acting internships, a Humanities selective, the "Transition to Internship" course, and electives to enhance their competency-directed progression in learning, professional identity formation, and residency preparation.
• The phase includes several courses, such as:
  • 2 acting internships at Penn State Health or Penn State College of Medicine affiliates
  • 1 humanities selective
  • 24 weeks of electives
  • Translating Health Systems course
  • Transition to Internship course

Accelerated Pathway Curriculum Details

• The accelerated pathway is designed for students who want to complete their MD degree in three years.
• The pathway includes several courses, such as:
  • Acceleration Clerkships/Electives
  • Additional Pathway Courses
  • Transition to Internship (TRANS 742)
  • Graduation

Graduation

• The Transition to Internship course occurs at the end of each student’s medical school career and builds on these concepts in preparation for residency training.
• The course includes both large group workshops and small group “selective” sessions.
• The course is designed to provide review and practice of key clinical skills and concepts, as well as introduction of new information regarding communication and collaboration with other health professionals, teaching and evaluation strategies for interns in their educator roles, and practice in effective patient handoffs.