Rush Medical College of Rush University

Rush Medical College of Rush University Academics

4-year semitraditional. The school seeks to provide students with a strong background in the biomedical sciences and a balanced introduction to the practice of clinical medicine. A major goal is to foster a commitment to competent and compassionate patient care and to a desire for lifelong learning. The school curriculum is unified for all students. The basic science curriculum places increased emphasis on small-group and selfdirected learning. First year: Provides students with exposure to the vocabulary and fundamental concepts upon which the clinical sciences are based.The first year is made up of 3 quarters of basic science material organized by disciplines and emphasizing the structure, function, and behavior of the normal person. Students participate in a 2-year longitudinal generalist curriculum.Coursesincludeinterviewingandcommunications, physical diagnosis, and a primary care preceptorship. Second year: Students study the causes and effects of disease and therapeutics and initiate their work with patients in programs that emphasize interviewing, history-taking, and the physical examination. Third and fourth years: Provide students with training in clinical skills, diagnosis, and patient management in a variety of patient care settings. The clinical curriculum includes required core clerkships in family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, and surgery for a total of 60 weeks. A total of 18 weeks of elective study in areas of special interest to each student is also required.