Curriculum: Phase 3
Phase 3, in the fourth year, consists of three components: a three-month Advanced Clinical Experience, a two-month “Selective” experience, and five months of electives, one month of which can be used as vacation. Students may customize this phase of the curriculum
by taking any one of the components in any sequence. The schedules are made in
one-month increments, and students do not have to schedule all months in a particular component in sequence. The Student Continuity Practice may be continued throughout phase 3 as a
longitudinal elective.
The Advanced Clinical Experience is designed to build upon the clinical experiences of phase 2. Students must complete an advanced inpatient experience in family medicine, internal medicine,
pediatrics or surgery. Rotation in the emergency department and critical care unit are required. In the emergency medicine rotation students select the setting, which
can range from a level-1 trauma center to a community hospital emergency department. Students also choose the critical care setting, which can be a medical/surgical ICU, pediatric ICU, or
other critical care setting.
The Selectives experience provides students with a capstone project, in the areas of education, research or community health. Students develop and carry out projects under
the guidance of a faculty advisor. Many students use this opportunity to develop a specific expertise, or to explore an area of particular interest. For example, students with an interest in
international health issues, often use the Selective project to pursue health-related projects in other countries. Among the significant contributions made through Selective projects are new
curriculum materials and courses, community health education curricula, published research and professional presentations, and creative educational modalities, such as
children’s books, novels, a documentary film, puppet show and dramatic play. Students have reported that their Selective project was a critical factor in obtaining their desired residency
position.
The electives offered in phase 3 are wide ranging and include rotations in all specialties and subspecialties of medicine. In addition, students may take elective time to serve
as teaching assistants for phase 1 courses. This teaching opportunity allows them to reinforce knowledge in a specific area and to improve teaching
skills. Students may take their electives within the UConn system, or at any other medical school or hospital.
Based on surveys sent to residency program directors who train our students, the school is confident that the educational and training experiences offered by UConn prepares
students to excel in their chosen field. |
