Learning Skills/Competencies to be acquired with successful program completion
Many medical schools have and are embracing the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) six (6) core competencies for resident education as the building blocks necessary for shaping the student to become a competent licensed physician.
CUSM-SOM, in consonance with many other medical schools, has structured its educational approach to an integrated model in which students demonstrate incremental acquisition and mastery of all competencies as they progress through medical school. The following represents CUSM-SOM’s MD Program Learning Outcomes in harmony with the six core competencies proposed by the ACGME. The objective of the MD program is for students to achieve the MD Program Learning Outcomes.
Medical Knowledge
Students must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care, through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Patient Care
Students must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health and the treatment of health-related problems. Students must prioritize patient’s problems, formulate appropriate differential diagnoses and develop appropriate plans for the diagnosis and/or management. Students are expected to perform clinical procedures safely and effectively while respecting patients’ needs, and concerns.
Professionalism
Students must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles. Students are expected to demonstrate:
- compassion, integrity, and respect for others
- respect for patient privacy and autonomy
- responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest
- accountability to patients, society, and the profession
- awareness of biases, sensitivity, and responsiveness to diverse populations
Interpersonal Communication
Students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals. Students are expected to:
- communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
- work effectively as a member or leader of a healthcare team and communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health related agencies
Personal Improvement (Practice-based Learning)
Students must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and lifelong learning. Students are expected to identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise and set learning and improvement goals.
System improvement (System-based Practice)
Students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of healthcare, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the systems available to provide optimal healthcare. Students are expected to work effectively in various healthcare delivery settings and in inter-professional teams to enhance patient safety and contribute to high-quality care. Graduates are expected to demonstrate an awareness of the US health care system, as well as local Inland Empire health care needs and social determinants of health.