1.08 MD Program Objectives

Competencies and Program Objectives

Medical Knowledge

All students are expected to understand and integrate foundational knowledge in the biomedical, clinical, social, behavioral, population, health systems and data sciences (hereafter called medical sciences); to apply this knowledge to clinical problem-solving; and develop self-directed learning skills to integrate evidence from evolving medical sciences into the care of individuals and populations.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Explain the foundational principles that underlie the medical sciences and integrate this knowledge across disciplines.
2. Apply their understanding of established knowledge in medical sciences to problems in clinical medicine and the care of individuals and populations.
3. Apply their understanding of how the scientific method works and how it advances the medical sciences.
4. Identify and integrate evolving information in medical sciences, and apply this knowledge to clinical-problem solving.

Patient Care

All students are expected to demonstrate the ability to provide evidence-based, compassionate care for patients that is appropriate for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and the promotion of health equity, work effectively as part of a team with other health professionals, and provide care for multiple patients concurrently.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Provide compassionate, inclusive, trauma-informed, and affirming patient-centered care in order to promote and improve health.
2. Obtain and collect information from patients including a complete and accurate medical history and physical examination, and other sources relevant to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common and urgent conditions, including the performance of diagnostic procedures.
3. Efficiently interpret, analyze, assess and prioritize relevant data from patient sources as well as from the medical literature to establish a diagnosis and management plan, including the initiation of clinically reasoned interventions.
4. Work collaboratively as part of an interprofessional team to ensure safe, appropriate care for a service of patients.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

All students are expected to demonstrate effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills, and to build collaborative and trusting relationships with patients, families and colleagues.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Form collaborative and trusting relationships with patients, caregivers and all members of the healthcare team.
2. Effectively communicate with patients, caregivers and all members of the healthcare team, using all available resources, to promote informed consent and shared decision making.
3. Effectively communicate medical information in oral, written and electronic form to advance patient care.
4. Demonstrate the interpersonal and communication skills required to be an effective member of a health care team.

Critical and Informed Thinking, Adaptive Expertise and Scientific Inquiry

All students are expected to evaluate, analyze and apply knowledge; to identify gaps in their own learning; to focus on lifelong learning; and to engage in scholarly inquiry aimed at advancing knowledge in the ultimate service of providing exceptional patient care and relieving human suffering.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Evaluate, analyze and apply new and existing knowledge with advances and discoveries in biomedical, clinical, social, behavioral and population and data sciences.
2. Identify and describe gaps in their knowledge and skills, while managing uncertainty, to continually advance their professional development.
3. Apply the skills necessary for self-reflection, self-assessment, self-directed learning, and lifelong learning.
4. Recognize and explain cognitive biases and how they impact decision making and patient care.
5. Identify gaps in the literature and engage in scholarly inquiry and innovation with a goal of advancing knowledge in the service of the mission of medicine and exceptional patient care.
6. Design, perform and analyze experiments to address emerging challenges affecting human health in preparation for a career as a physician-investigator. (HST Only)

Professionalism

All students are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards of professional responsibility, integrity and accountability; adherence to ethical principles; self-awareness; and moral reasoning in relation to patients, colleagues and society.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Exemplify the professional values of medicine, including compassion, integrity, social responsibility and respect for all persons and identities.
2. Demonstrate the responsible behaviors expected of physicians, including accountability, patient confidentiality and safety, punctuality and the prioritizing of the needs of others while maintaining appropriate self-care.
3. Demonstrate and embody ethical standards, principles and moral reasoning in all professional interactions with patients, caregivers, colleagues and society at large.
4. Apply the skills and incorporate the attitudes needed to maintain and promote personal wellbeing while ensuring patient safety.

Health Equity and the Structural and Social Determinants of Health

All students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and responsiveness to the systems and structures that shape our patients’ health and health care. All students will learn to identify and address the social determinants of health and health care and will demonstrate sensitivity to and advocacy for diverse populations to ameliorate inequities and injustice in health.

By the time of graduation, all students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within health systems and to improve access, safety, quality, equity and value of those systems.
2. Provide care with cultural humility and appreciation of the needs of diverse populations.
3. Demonstrate the skills needed to advocate in partnership with patients and communities to improve health outcomes at the individual, organizational and societal levels.
4. Demonstrate through actions and reflections an understanding of and sensitivity to the social determinants of health and opportunities to address health inequities.

Updated 8/1/24