Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Program
Phase 1
In Phase 1, students get an introduction to the requirements and rigors of medical school and clinical practice in the Introduction to Medicine course. The course provides students a low-stakes opportunity to acclimate to expectations and learn success techniques before embarking on the medical education journey. After this first course, we use an organ-based approach to teach basic clinical, and behavioral sciences primarily using structured small group learning in the remainder of Phase 1.
In addition to the integrated basic/clinical sciences organ-systems content, students are enrolled in five longitudinal courses in Clinical Skills, Phase 1 LIC 1, Future Accelerators of Medicine and Beyond (FAB), Scholarly Pursuit and Thesis, and Preparation for Practice.
Finally, students are enrolled in a six week course which offers test-taking techniques and additional study materials to prepare students to sit for the USMLE Step 1 Exam
Phase 2
Students begin Phase 2 with a Transition to LIC course that prepares students for the clinical years of their medical education through the development of knowledge and skills to become Empathetic Scholars® in the clinical environment.
During the Phase 2 Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC), students will participate in the comprehensive care of patients in the ambulatory and hospital environments with dedicated preceptors to acquire core clinical care knowledge and skills. The LIC experience consists of 8 clinical discipline clerkships (Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery). The LIC begins with 10 weeks of inpatient hospital immersions followed by 40 clinical weeks of ambulatory LIC rotations. During the ambulatory portion of the LIC, students will meet every Thursday afternoon for didactics known as Learning, Application and Pondering Sessions (LeAPS). Students will also participate in short clusters of inpatient time known as Bursts, and additional short clusters of outpatient time known as Experiences.
Phase 3
Phase 3 begins in the third year and continues until graduation. Students will continue their professional development and scholarly pursuit as well as prepare for residency. Students begin with the 16-week “Develop” portion of Phase 3 where there is an emphasis on the 13 Preparation for Practice themes the school has designated as critical to a well-rounded physician practicing 21st century medicine. Groups of students will work with faculty and community partners to develop a focused Community Impact Project related to one of seven societal issues. Students will also continue to care for a small subset of their patient panel, including those they acquired during Phase 1, in order to maintain clinical acuity and allow for a continued connection with patients and clinical teachers through the Phase 3 LIC course. Finally, students will also have dedicated time to continue work on their 4 year project in the Scholarly Pursuit and Thesis course and to present data to each other in small groups to hone communication skills and collaborative thinking about research.
Students continue with the “Focus” portion, a truly individualized time of the curriculum that will include a 4-week sub-internship rotation in a specialty of choice, a 4-week critical care selective in a specialty of choice, and 28 weeks of elective course time to allow students to gain valuable clinical experience, explore career interests and prepare for the residency match process. Students will also be given a generous allotment of time to apply and interview for residency admission, as well as prepare for and take USMLE Steps 2 CK.
Finally, the students will enter the “Prepare” portion of Phase 3. Students will participate in a final on-campus course, Transition to Residency, designed to prepare students for the next stage of their career as a first-year resident. The curriculum will include content on advanced clinical procedures, communication skills, leadership, team management, and other requisite skills. This course will also allow time for the students to reflect on their progress through medical school, what it means to be a physician and includes a final emphasis on communication, empathy, and the value of compassionate patient care. During this portion of Phase 3, the students will present their Scholarly Pursuit and Thesis project in the annual research symposium.
Phase 3 Develop
Advanced Inpatient Sub Internship
Students are required to complete 4 weeks of Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship. Students choose from one SubI listed below.
| FMLY 87020 | Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship, Family Medicine | 4 |
| IMED 87020 | Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship, Medicine | 4 |
| OBGN 87020 | Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship, OB/GYN | 4 |
| PEDS 87020 | Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship, Pediatrics | 4 |
| SURG 87020 | Advanced Inpatient Sub-Internship, Surgery | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Critical Care
Students are required to complete 4 weeks of Critical Care. Students will choose one critical care option listed below.
Electives List
Students are required to complete at least 28 weeks of electives. Students may take electives of their choosing for credit provided they meet Burnett School of Medicine at TCU requirements.