University of Massachusetts Medical School

University of Massachusetts Medical School Academics

4-year semimodern. First and second years: The curriculum in the preclinical sciences emphasizes thoughtful coordination across disciplines and interdisciplinary courses. Throughout the first 2 years, students also participate in twice-weekly sessions consisting of The Patient, Physician, and Society (PPS) and the Longitudinal Preceptorship Program (LPP). Both courses are tightly integrated and coordinated with concurrent basic science disciplines. Third and fourth years: The clerkship years comprise the third and fourth years of study. Required clerkships consist of clinical rotations in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, neurology, and surgery. The medicine clerkship includes 4 weeks in an internist’s office. The surgery clerkship consists of a hospital-based, 8-week component and a 4-week ambulatory component. The fourth year consists of a required 4-week clerkship in neurology and a 4-week subinternship in medicine plus a minimum of an additional 24 weeks of electives. With the guidance and counsel of faculty members, students plan a balanced program of study appropriate to their field of interest, combining work in both basic science and clinical medicine. The Senior Scholars Program also exists for selected students who desire intensive study in a field of special interest or research. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, a unique program of at least 3 months combining both basic science and clinical experience in a given discipline is arranged.