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Curriculum Review
Curriculum Review for Undergraduate Medicine
Serving society’s needs is of the utmost importance, and requires training graduates who are well equipped to assume leadership roles in their communities. This entails keeping a constant watchful eye towards advancing the M.D.,C.M. program curriculum, and continuous fine tuning to ensure it remains in step with the health sciences environment (of the 21st century in Quebec, nationally, and globally, including rapid advances in scientific knowledge). The Faculty realizes the need for constant review of the medical curriculum that is also necessitated by accreditation standards and current literature resources that pertain to educational best practices.
The Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum Committee advises on the strategic directions of ongoing undergraduate medical education curricular renewal, encompassing all years within Undergraduate Medical Education. It oversees all aspects of the medical undergraduate curriculum and ensures that it conforms to the mission statement of the Faculty of Medicine, overall M.D.,C.M. program objectives, and the standards of relevant national organizations. It reviews curricular learning outcomes; teaching; assessment and evaluation strategies; and curricular outcomes. The committee also manages risks and assures that adequate resources—including faculty, faculty development, and evaluation—are available to fulfill the tasks set out in annual activity plans. The committee also develops and monitors policies that support the curricular framework, the hours of the school year, curricular content and workload, curricular review, and new learning within the curriculum. The curriculum consists of four components:
- Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD);
- Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP);
- Core and Senior Clerkship;
- Physicianship.
Longitudinal themes are woven through the four-year program components. Curriculum details are also available at www.mcgill.ca/ugme/curriculum.
There is wide student representation within all educational committees; whether at the Curriculum Committee or component, course, and discipline subcommittee levels.
Evaluation System
Evaluation System
The Evaluation System is multifaceted and under constant review by the Faculty. The Faculty reserves the right to change any of these rules and regulations at any time, although in general such changes will not come into effect in the middle of a Promotion Period. For complete Faculty regulations, reference should be made to the Faculty of Medicine's Undergraduate Medical Education Academic Policies.
The Faculty operates on a modified pass/fail system. This in effect means that students' standings, class rank, and grades in courses and rotations are not available to any external agency such as hospitals, universities or licensing bodies. For purposes of internal use students' numerical grades are used in the calculations required for student feedback, academic advising and promotion, awards, prizes, Dean's Honour List designation, academic bursaries and Faculty medals.
For the purposes of evaluation, the four-year curriculum is broken down into promotion periods. (Subject to change; see below.)
Promotion Periods
Promotion Periods
Promotion Period I includes Fundamentals of Medicine Year 1 courses and Physician Apprenticeship 1. The promotion periods for the remaining three years of the curriculum are under review. For more details, see www.mcgill.ca/ugme/about-us/governance/committee-student-promotion-and-curricular-outcomes.
For details regarding Promotion Periods II to V for Fall 2014 – Class of 2018 students (and earlier), please refer to the appropriate edition of the Health Sciences Calendar at www.mcgill.ca/students/courses/calendars.
Student Promotions
Student Promotions
The Committee on Student Promotion and Curriculum Outcomes (CSPCO) will review the academic record, professional conduct and general performance of any student on a regular basis and will determine whether the student may proceed to the next promotion period.
No evaluation, examination mark, etc. shall be considered final until passed by the CSPCO. Where a student has failed one or more units, or has been found to have been engaged in unprofessional conduct, the CSPCO will automatically review the student's entire academic record and general performance. The CSPCO may require the student:
- to undergo remedial rotation(s);
- to repeat an entire Promotion Period;
- to be suspended from the program for up to one year; or
- to be dismissed from the program.
A student who obtains a "failure" or two or more "borderline" grades with the new curriculum as of Class of 2017 or a "failure" or two or more "Below Expectations" for the Class of 2016 will be placed on probation.
Academic offences such as plagiarism and cheating on examinations, including examinations administered by the Faculty of Medicine on behalf of external agencies, and unprofessional conduct, are considered serious offences which could lead to dismissal from the program. A student who engages in criminal activity and/or who is found guilty of having violated the criminal code will have his/her dossier referred to the CSPCO; this may be considered evidence of unsuitability for the practice of medicine and grounds for dismissal from the program.
The Faculty reserves the right to dismiss from the program any student who is considered incompetent and/or unsuitable for the practice of medicine (see www.mcgill.ca/ugme/about-us/governance/committee-student-promotion-and-curricular-outcomes).
Failure of Supplemental Examinations or Remedial Rotations
Failure of Supplemental Examinations or Remedial Rotations
A failure in a supplemental examination or remedial rotation in Promotion Periods I, II, III, IV, and V will result in the student being required to repeat the Promotion Period or to be dismissed from the program as determined by the CSPCO. A student may not repeat more than one Promotion Period in the curriculum. Failure in any course during a repeat Promotion Period will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
The results of all supplemental examinations and the evaluation result of remedial clinical rotations will be recorded in the official transcripts as supplemental examinations, and will be considered as such for purposes of promotion.
Notice of Failures
Notice of Failures
It is the student's responsibility to be available for notification of a failing grade. If a student is unable to be located after a reasonable effort by the Dean's office, the consequences will be borne fully by the student.
Curriculum Components and Blocks
Curriculum Components and Blocks
Due to curriculum changes, curriculum components and blocks may be revised. Revisions will be posted on the Undergraduate Medical Education website.
Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD)
Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD)
BLOCK A
- INDS 111 Molecules to Global Health
BLOCK B
- INDS 112 Respiration
BLOCK C
- INDS 113 Circulation
BLOCK D
- INDS 115 Renal
BLOCK E
- INDS 114 Digestion and Metabolism
BLOCK F
- INDS 116 Defense
BLOCK G
- INDS 117 Infection
BLOCK H
- INDS 118 Movement
BLOCK I
- INDS 211 Reproduction and Sexuality
BLOCK J
- INDS 212 Human Behaviour
Other Courses in FMD
- INDS 119J1/INDS 119J2/INDS 119J3 Clinical Method 1
- INDS 122J1/INDS 122J2/INDS 122J3 Physician Apprenticeship 1
- INDS 123J1/INDS 123J2/INDS 123J3 Research Fundamentals 1
- INDS 124J1/INDS 124J2/INDS 124J3 Longitudinal Family Medicine 1
- INDS 125J1/INDS 125J2/INDS 125J3 Reflection and Examination
- INDS 219 Clinical Method 2
- INDS 222J1/INDS 222J2/INDS 222J3 Physician Apprenticeship 2
- INDS 223 Research Fundamentals 2
- INDS 224J1/INDS 224J2/INDS 224J3 Community Health Alliance Project - C.H.A.P.
- INDS 225 Reflection and Examination 3
Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP)
Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP)
The Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP) component runs from January to June of second year of the M.D.,C.M. program. TCP consists of three eight-week blocks, followed by disciplines integrated assessments, and an introduction to clerkship course. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.
- Core and Consultative Medicine – this block includes:
-
Comprehensive Health – this block includes:
- FMED 301 Family Medicine - Transition to Clinical Practice
- PAED 301 Pediatrics - Transition to Clinical Practice
- INDS 302 Medical Ethics & Health Law - Transition to Clinical Practice
- INDS 300 Mindful Medical Practice - Transition to Clinical Practice
- INDS 224J1/INDS 224J2/INDS 224J3 Community Health Alliance Project - C.H.A.P.
- Diagnostic and Interventional Medicine – this block includes:
The following course is also included as part of TCP:
- INDS 305 Transition to Clerkship
At the end of TCP there will be an integrated assessment course:
- INDS 323 Integrated Assessment - Transition to Clinical Practice
The following Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal course will continue during TCP:
- INDS 222J1/INDS 222J2/INDS 222J3 Physician Apprenticeship 2
Information on each department/unit can be found at Departments and Units in the Faculty of Medicine.
Core and Senior Clerkship
Core and Senior Clerkship
Core Clerkship
Core Clerkship
The Core Clerkship runs from July to June of the third year of the M.D.,C.M. program. It consists of three sixteen-week blocks followed by disciplines integrated assessments. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.
- Inpatient and Consultative Medicine & Surgery – this block includes:
- Family Medicine and Mental Health – this block includes:
- Women and Child Health & Elective – this block includes:
The following courses are also included as part of the Core Clerkship during these blocks:
- INDS 320J1/INDS 320J2/INDS 320J3 Formation of the Professional and Healer
- INDS 322J1/INDS 322J2/INDS 322J3 Physician Apprenticeship 3
At the end of the Core Clerkship there will be an integrated assessment course:
- INDS 423 Integrated Assessment - Core Clerkship
Senior Clerkship
Senior Clerkship
Senior Clerkship 2015–2016
- INDS 304 Emergency Medicine - Senior Clerkships
- IMED 406 Geriatric Medicine - Senior Clerkships
- SURG 403 Surgery Sub-Specialty - Senior Clerkships
- INDS 405 Topics in Medical Science 1
- INDS 407 Topics in Medical Science 2
- INDS 420 Physicianship 4
- INDS 422D1/INDS 422D2 Physician Apprenticeship 4
- ELEC 401 Elective 2 - Clerkships
- ELEC 402 Elective 2 - Senior Clerkships
- ELEC 403 Elective 3 - Senior Clerkships
- ELEC 404 Elective 4 - Senior Clerkships
- ELEC 405 Elective 5 - Senior Clerkships
Senior Clerkship 2016–2017
The Senior Clerkship runs from August to April of the fourth year of the M.D.,C.M. program. It consists of three eight-week blocks followed by disciplines integrated assessments. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.
- IMED 407 Geriatric Medicine - Senior Clerkship
- INDS 408 Emergency Medicine - Senior Clerkship
- INDS 426 Basic Science, Medicine and Society
- INDS 421 Transition to Residency
- INDS 427 Public Health Selective
- ELEC 401 Elective 2 - Clerkships
- ELEC 402 Elective 2 - Senior Clerkships
- ELEC 403 Elective 3 - Senior Clerkships
The following Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal course will continue during Senior Clerkship:
- INDS 422D1/INDS 422D2 Physician Apprenticeship 4
At the end of the Senior Clerkship there will be an integrated assessment course:
- INDS 424 Integrated Assessment - Senior Clerkship
Physicianship
Physicianship
Physicianship is a main component of the curriculum and offers formal courses (Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal program, Clinical Method I & II, Mindful Medical Practice, Medical Ethics & Health Law). The Physicianship subcommittee is also responsible for content that is woven into specific component courses' content such as palliative care, professional identity formation, social studies of medicine, ultrasound, etc.
Please refer to curriculum components to view the Physicianship information.
Electives
Electives in the Professional Medicine Program
Electives are offered during Core and Senior Clerkships by a number of departments/units in the Faculty of Medicine.
Details are published in the "Electives Program" section of the UGME website, while the list of departments offering electives is available at www.mcgill.ca/ugme-electives/elective-courses and www.mcgill.ca/ugme-electives/mcgill-students. Further information may be obtained from the Coordinator (Elective Program), Faculty of Medicine.