Clinical Curriculum

The goal of the clinical curriculum is to ensure that all graduates of CCLCM develop broad-based clinical expertise. The program uniquely integrates patient care experiences with basic science and research beginning in year 1. Clinical experiences include a half-day longitudinal case experience with a primary care physician every other week in year 1 and every week in year 2. In year 1, observation of student performance is aimed at providing feedback correlated to skills being taught in the physical diagnosis and communication skills sessions. Students have an opportunity to evaluate new patients and to maintain continuity with past patients during these sessions. Relevant clinical experience is maintained by students during their research experience in years 3-5.

All students:

• Work with a primary care longitudinal preceptor throughout years 1 and 2 to refine physical diagnosis and communication skills and longitudinally follow patients
• Maintain patient logs to facilitate tracking the breadth and depth of clinical exposure in order to assure a comprehensive experience
• Use ongoing assessment of clinical exposure, basic science and clinical competency, and future professional interests to tailor clinical experiences to their needs and interests

These activities are supplemented by communication skills and physical diagnosis sessions with standardized patients, simulation modules, and discussion of video taped sessions with faculty.

Core clinical experience requirements during years 3-5 are the same for CCLCM students and students in the University track. Students from both tracks may rotate to any of the major teaching hospitals that are part of the CWRU teaching system.