Predoctoral Curriculum Details

Overview

The four year UC medical college curriculum has a pattern that is similar to most medical schools. In Year One students develop a basic fund of knowledge in "normal" human sciences including Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, and a small amount of patient exposure in what is termed the "Introduction to Clinical Practice I". In Year Two they learn "abnormal" human sciences including Pathophysiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, etc. and increase their clinical training by completing courses in physical exam ination and physical diagnosis. Year Three is a required clinical year where students rotate on the traditionally required rotations: Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, OB/Gyn, and Family Medicine. In Year Four they complete their clinical training with AHEC rotations and elective rotations where they can develop special interests and explore career development.

The Family Medicine Curriculum has involvement in all four years and the Department of Family Medicine has increased its involvment aggressively in these courses. The opportunities for clinical exposure in the Family Practice electives in the second year continue to expand. The Family Medicine required Clerkship is now an integral part of the curriculum in the third year.

Year One

ICP-I
(Introduction to Clinical Practice Year One)
The course is divided into two components:

Clinical Sciences: A longitudinal component covering medical interviewing and physical exam. This portion of ICP-I combines coursework iwth an opportunity to work in clinical preceptor offices.

Behavioral Medicine: This portion of ICP-I covers diverse topics such as death & dying, medical ethics, and human sexuality.

URBAN HEALTH PROJECT
This student founded and organized public health program functions to connect post-ICP-I medical students with underserved persons in the Cincinnati community. Students selected for 1 of 16 placements work directly with those in need while obtaining firsthand understanding of social and economic concerns that affect people's health and well being. Students are placed in community agencies where they collaborate on a wide spectrum of social problems faced by the porr, including homelessness, abuse and neglect, inadequate education, and ill health. Students do not provide direct medical care.

Year Two

FAMILY CARE ELECTIVE
Second year students participate in the Family Care Program as an elective. This elective is designed to provide the opportunity for students to have a patient-centered experience. The students are present with their patients during office visits and othe clinical encounters. In the perinatal/newborn track, students attend the delivery and later participate in the well baby check-ups. In the Geriatrics/Alzheimers, Adolescent Medicine, and AIDS tracks, students assume roles outside of the usual doctor-patient relationship by serving as an advocate or mentor. Family Medicine Scholars provides extensive training and exposure to Family Practice with one-on-one tutorial and mentoring experience with a selected faculty member.

FAMILY MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP
The Family Practice Club consists of students in all four years with an interest in Family Medicine. Students meet monthly to hear speakers present topics on life as a family physician, common health problems encountered by primary care physicians, rural underserved-area physicians, medical ethics, advanced care directives, malpractice, and others. Opportunities for service to inner-city agencies are available with the Homeless Health Care Van, CCAT house (an inner-city program for substance abuse), and St. John's Soup Kitchen.

HOMELESS HEALTHCARE CLERKSHIP
This two month rotation exposes trainees to the health care problems of the homeless and gives them a unique opportunity to develop and practice clinical skills. Students in this program work closely with a family physician faculty member in a shelter for homeless families and a mobile unite that provides care for the homeless. Sixteen to twenty students are enrolled each year.

Year Three

FAMILY MEDICINE CLERKSHIP
A four week required third year Family Medicine Clerkship began in July 1994. Students are placed with a community preceptor during the four weeks, attend weekly didactic sessions, write a family study paper and take a final exam.

The examination covers all required readings. The objective examination also has questions from all of the case study presentations given that month. The basis of the student's grade remains 60% from the preceptor evaluation, 20% from the written examination, and 20% from the in-depth family study paper.

CLINICAL SCIENCES: A longitudinal component covering medical interviewing and physical exam. This portion of ICP-I combines coursework iwth an opportunity to work in clinical preceptor offices.

BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE: This portion of ICP-I covers diverse topics such as death & dying, medical ethics, and human sexuality.

URBAN HEALTH PROJECT
This student founded and organized public health program functions to connect post-ICP-I medical students with underserved persons in the Cincinnati community. Students selected for 1 of 16 placements work directly with those in need while obtaining firsthand understanding of social and economic concerns that affect people's health and well being. Students are placed in community agencies where they collaborate on a wide spectrum of social problems faced by the porr, including homelessness, abuse and neglect, inadequate education, and ill health. Students do not provide direct medical care.

Year Four

FOURTH YEAR ELECTIVE PRECEPTORSHIP IN FAMILY MEDICINE/AHEC
This course is available to seniors to help them fulfill their off-site AHEC rotation. Students are placed with community Family Medicine physicians in their private offices, both rural and urban-based. Four week rotations are available year-round which offer outpatient care and inpatient ward experience through one-to-one instruction. Students are required to present specific cases to preceptors and clincial staff they interact with during the month, and conduct independent study of literature reviews as necessary.

AI IN FAMILY MEDICINE-ICE
This four-week clerkship for 4th year students focuses on comprehensive inpatient care.  The student will function as a full team member with residents and faculty, assuming primary inpatient responsibility for his/her panel of patients.  The student will attend daily tutorials and conferences with Family Medicine faculty as scheduled with the inpatient team.

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH-ICE
The International Health Care course offers seniors an intensive full-time two week lecture series and laboratory preparation for practical primary care delivery in a developing country, usually Honduras. These include presentations including essential diagnostic and treatment skills as well as issues of medical anthropology, cross-cultural barriers, and teaching health care workers, all taught by multi-disciplinary faculty from the Medical Center and community. The off-site component involves intensive experience in underserverd areas working up patients, interpreting clinical data and performing procedural techniques with a varied pathology in a primitive medical setting. Over 60% of students participating in this course have chosen Family Medicine residencies, and several have indicated that this experience has influenced them to work with underserved populations in the U.S. after they complete their training.

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
This four week elective is designed to broaden students' knowledge of the various modalities in this ever growing field via lectures and experiential sessions conducted by faculty and community doctors and practicioners. Complementary approaches covered include acupuncture, chiropractice, massage therapy, healing touch, nutrition, reflexology, herbal supplements, guided imagery, and energy work.

LAURA LAVALLE PPT-NUTRITION:

Nutrition Summary.doc
Nutrition-BeyondTheFoodPyramid.ppt
Nutrition-MetabolicCodeDiet.ppt

JIM LAVALLE PPT

DrugInducedNutrientDepletions.ppt
HerbalTherapyLaValle.ppt
MetabolicFunctions.ppt