Albany Medical College Office of Admissions

Academics

Albany follows a 4-year semitraditional model. The curriculum of the first year focuses on basic science instruction combined with clinical cases to focus on normal function. In the second year this focus shifts to abnormal function and the disease state. In their third year, students take on clinical clerkships that emphasize ambulatory care in varied settings: rural, urban, managed care, and private practice. Finally, in the fourth year students are expected to participate in hospital-based work that prepares them for future residency and practice. Additional elective time allows students to round out their education and further explore specific areas of interest.

During both the third and fourth years, basic science material is revisited within the context of a student’s clinical experience. Several other modules, each with a different health care focus, span the entire 4-year experience. For example, Health Care and Society introduces students to the psychosocial, humanistic, ethical, and legal aspects of care. Comprehensive Care Case Study emphasizes primary care, systems of care, comparisons of care in different settings, issues related to the epidemiology of disease, prevention and wellness, geriatrics, AIDS, and substance abuse. This module focuses students’ attention on the concept of health care delivered by a team rather than an individual.