Curriculum
A learner-centered, competency-based educational experience that is infused with best practices spanning all educational methods.
Rationale
The landscape of the healthcare environment is amid a remarkable evolution that is transforming the delivery and in fact the very definition of healthcare in our nation. Some of the many key factors that are contributing to this paradigm shift in healthcare and healthcare delivery include:
- emerging technologies
- a profound increase in the breadth of medical knowledge
- increasingly complex and continually changing healthcare system
- patient population that is likewise increasing in complexity
The Model
The curriculum is driven by the initiatives of innovation, integration, and collaboration by the faculty of the medical disciplines ranging from the basic sciences to the clinical sciences. We are unique from many other medical schools in that we often see the multidisciplinary faculty working and teaching side-by-side. This makes for a dynamic and fun educational process that encourages life-long learning and collaboration between student doctors and faculty. We were also eager to create an educational experience that creates a balance between the rigors of medical school education, wellness and humanism that are critical to the development of each student. The entire COMP faculty and the iMED subcommittee successfully completed the first two years of the new curriculum and with it, a learner-centered, competency-based educational experience that is infused with best practices spanning all educational methods.
Assessment
The timing and sequencing of the curriculum allows for both formative and summative assessments that occurs at optimal intervals. The assessment methods are designed to prepare students for the licensure examination process and their future clinical practice. Additionally, the curriculum has been created in such a manner that allows us to assess and improve the educational process and student performance in real time.
Conference Weeks
The students will also partake in a unique process of longitudinal professional development whereby students can select topics of interest to personalize their growth as a student doctor; all of which makes for a highly dynamic and very strong student experience for all COMP students.
Wellness and professionalism activities were intentionally embedded strategically throughout the years of training. The conference week framework mimics that of a professional development conference. Student attendees may choose from a variety of wellness-based and professional development activities designed to expand their skillsets as future physicians, as well as promote their overall well-being. As physicians in the future, students will be expected to manage their continuing education activities by individual choice. The conference week provides multiple opportunities throughout their first three years to build this important skillset.
OMS Victor Abdullatif
“I definitely feel supported in my learning. I am very close with faculty and feel that I can reach out to them whenever I hit a sticking point or need some help.”
OMS Lana Wang
“One of the best advice I received, and have been passing on, is to remember to have fun and enjoy the process… so I make sure I give myself time for self-care and wellness.”