| The George Washington University MD
curriculum prepares well-trained physicians to complete residencies
in primary care or specialized areas of concentration. Through a
biopsychosocial exploration of the patient, the curriculum constantly
emphasizes that illness occurs in people who live in families, who
are parts of groups, and who experience the world through cultural
and traditional lenses. Our medical school also stresses education
through cooperation and collaboration rather than competition and
emphasizes working with groups of colleagues and co-workers. The
course of study progresses as follows:
YEAR 1: Courses
in anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, neurobiology
and physiology constitute the first year classroom study of the
cell and organ systems and Practice of Medicine. The summer following the first year is unscheduled
to allow students to take advantage of the many local, national
and international volunteer or internship opportunities available
to them.
YEAR
2: The second-year curriculum focuses on abnormal human biology
through courses in pathology, pharmacology, and an interdisciplinary,
organ-system course titled Introduction to Clinical Medicine. The
clinical lectures and small group discussions are coordinated to
give an integrated picture of pathophysiology and the natural history
of various diseases as they relate to the organ system. Students continue taking the Practice of Medicine course.
YEAR 3:
Year 3 begins a two-year continuum of clinical clerkships and electives,
including eight-week clerkships
in each of the six major clinical disciplines conducted at the
University Hospital, affiliated institutions and a variety of ambulatory
care settings. Children’s National Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Inova Fairfax
Hospital, St. Elizabeths Hospital, and the VA Medical Center are some of the affiliates.
Lectures, seminars, small-group discussions and readings supplement these practical health
care team and patient care experiences.
YEAR 4:
Year 4 coursework consists of a four-week “acting internship”
in medicine, pediatrics or family practice; 4 week clerkships in emergency medicine and
neuroscience, 2 weeks in anesthesiology; and at least one didactic course offering. The
remaining 20 weeks are planned to suit individual educational requirements and interests,
and can be completed either at the GW Medical Center or at approved
institutions all over the world. (Senior
Course Catalog)
Student
academic performance is evaluated on the Honors/Pass/Conditional/Fail
grading system, and ongoing assessments are conducted during the
courses. Passing Step I of the United States Medical Licensure Examination
(USMLE) is required before beginning 3rd year, and a Step II including the new clinical skills portion, passing
score is required prior to graduation. Students abide by The George
Washington University Honor Code which aims to foster an atmosphere
of ethical and responsible behavior and to reinforce the importance
of honesty and integrity in the examination process and throughout
clinical training.
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| The teaching of Microanatomy, Pathology, and Microbiology has now migrated from the traditional glass slides and microscope lab to a digital image format. The laboratory amphitheatre is equipped with a teaching podium including a document camera for projection of specimen and dual lumen projectors. Students work in pairs at computer workstations.
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New Humanities Electives:1st Year
- Doctors as Authors
- First-Person Medicine
- Literature and Medicine
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