Georgetown University School of Medicine

Introduction

Founded in 1851, Georgetown University School of Medicine is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit-sponsored medical school in the United States. It is named according to its location, the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. The school is a component of GU Hospital and a Concentrated Care Center containing 12 modern surgical suites. The curriculum of the School of Medicine was approved by the LCME.

Academics

This school’s 4-year curriculum combines departmentally based basic science courses and laboratory work, prescribed clinical clerkships,multidisciplinary courses and conferences, and electives. Courses in the first 2 years focus on the development of fundamental knowledge concerning the body’s normal and altered structure and functions. Small-group teaching and problem-based presentations have replaced a portion of the large class lectures. In the third year, clinical clerkships stress the skills required to acquire and interpret patient-based data, while the fourth year further develops skills in patient management, including rotations in ambulatory care settings. Twenty-four weeks of electives are available during this final year, 4 of which may be used for vacation. Faculty-student review of the curriculum is an important continuing endeavor of the School of Medicine.

Unique Programs

Minority admissions: Special admissions programs for under represented minority students include a prematriculation year of study supplemented with academic enrichment and advising. Other degree programs: A research track for medical students and a combined MD-PhD program are also available; the PhD may be taken in a basic medical science department, the neurosciences, or in philosophy-bioethics. Work on an MPH can begin in the summer before matriculation.

Admissions

Required courses include the basic premedical sciences as well as 1 year of English and 1 semester of mathematics. Courses considered useful preparation are biochemistry and computer science. A solid background in the humanities is important for future physicians. Some preference is given to District residents and Georgetown University undergraduates. Transfer and advanced standing: Students from foreign or domestic medical schools may apply to transfer to the second or third year. Transfers must take and pass Step 1 of the USMLE and must have taken the MCAT.

Students

At GU the grading system consists of Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Fail. Students who receive an F in any course will be considered to be in a position of jeopardy, and their case will be referred to the Committee on Students for Review. A failure could lead to dismissal, repeating a year, or doing additional work in a specific course. Passing Step 1 of the USMLE is required prior to entering the third year. Teaching: Basic sciences are taught in the School of Medicine Building, the Preclinical Science Building, and the Basic Science Building. Clinical teaching takes place at University Hospital, and a complex in close proximity to institutions providing access to approximately 7000 beds. Other: The District location provides students with opportunities such as federal laboratories, libraries, and museums. The National Library of Medicine and the laboratories of the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Standards are affiliated with the university. Library: Dahlgren Memorial Library houses about 160,000 volumes and subscribes to 1650 periodicals. Also available for students’ use are the Library of Congress, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health Library, Agriculture Department Library, and the Public Library of District of Columbia.

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