FAQ - Core 2

For 2024, Core 2 begins Tuesday, January 2. See the complete 2024 clerkship dates calendar.

• Anesthesiology (1 week)
• Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
• Family Medicine (4 weeks)
• Internal Medicine (8 weeks)
• Neurology (4 weeks)
• Obstetrics & Gynecology (6 weeks)
• Ophthalmology (1 week)
• Orthopaedics (1 week)
• Otorhinolaryngology (1 week)
• Pediatrics (6 weeks)
• Psychiatry (4 weeks)
• Surgery (8 weeks)

You will receive a lot of advice on this. We hope you find positive aspects to all the choices. There are no significant differences in student grades based on when you take your clerkships. If you have any questions, please reach out to your advisory deans, associate deans, or student leadership. 

The order is determined through OASIS, our online scheduling system.

The following clerkships do not have weekend responsibilities:

• Anesthesiology
• Family Medicine 
• Ophthalmology 
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otorhinolaryngology 
• Outpatient Pediatrics

Internal Medicine and Inpatient Pediatrics clerkships require weekend work.

Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry clerkships have variable weekend schedules.

Surgery, Ob/Gyn, and Neurology clerkships may require some weekend work.

Core 2 is a 48-week curriculum for students in the non-MD/PhD track.

A two-week vacation is scheduled from June 17 to June 30, 2024. No other weeks off are permitted except for extenuating circumstances, such as a family emergency or personal illness.

See Core 2 clerkship dates.

Traveling during Core 2 may be necessary. The Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine rotations may offer sites that require students to travel. Students without a driver’s license are not excluded. They will be required to travel to sites accessible via public transportation or carpool.  

Please carefully review the descriptions for patient population, hospital/practice characteristics and travel requirements. Students who encounter health issues that might interfere with travel (such as a broken leg) will be accommodated. This process is managed by the Registrar’s Office.

• Emergency Medicine (4 weeks) 
• Family Medicine (4 weeks)
• Internal Medicine (8 weeks)  
• “The O’s” - Anesthesiology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology (1 week each)
• Obstetrics/Gynecology (6 weeks) 
• Neurology (4 weeks) 
• Pediatrics (6 weeks)
• Psychiatry (4 weeks) 
• Surgery (4 weeks general service, 4 weeks subspecialty service)

Doctoring II runs on selected times during intersession throughout the 12 months of Core 2.

Students will be graded H/HP/P/F in accordance with the policies governing Academic Performance and Progression & Withdrawal.

• See 2024 exam dates.
• Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology departmental exams are given at the end of each week.

An OSCE is an objective structured clinical exam. An OSCE exam is given in:

• Family Medicine/Internal Medicine (at the Sim Center with standardized patients)
• Neurology (at HUP with no standardized patients)
• Pediatrics
• Surgery

A shelf exam is an end-of-clerkship standardized exam produced by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Questions are written and reviewed by the national test committees that prepare material for USMLE Step 2. The exam contains 110 questions and is strictly timed at 2 hours and 45 minutes. A shelf exam is given in:

• Emergency Medicine
• Family Medicine 
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology 
• Ob/Gyn
• Pediatrics 
• Psychiatry  
• Surgery

• Ophthalmology 
• Otorhinolaryngology

• Emergency Medicine
• Family Medicine 
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology 
• Ob/Gyn
• Pediatrics 
• Psychiatry  
• Surgery