MD Curriculum
Curriculum
Medical Education Program Objectives

Medical Education Program Objectives

Students at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) will graduate with the foundational medical knowledge and clinical skills to care for patients while being prepared to participate in improving the infrastructure and social constructs that impact the health of patients to promote health equity. Our students will be leaders who graduate committed to the pursuit of lifelong growth and professional development. Given that new discoveries that impact our thinking about disease and treatment are emerging at an ever increasing pace, our students will have a deep appreciation of the means through which new knowledge is generated and applied, allowing our students to create the medicine of tomorrow.

P = Professionalism • MK = Medical Knowledge • PC = Patient Care and Procedural Skills • PBLI = Practice Based Learning and Improvement • ICS = Interpersonal and Communication Skills • SBP = Systems-Based Practice

Professionalism

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should show respect and compassion for others and demonstrate empathy and humanism in their interactions. Students should begin to develop cultural humility, showing curiosity and respect for diverse cultural perspectives and experiences. Students should begin to recognize their conscious and unconscious biases and be knowledgeable about strategies to address them. Students should work toward becoming advocates for a culture of equity and inclusivity.	Students should actively engage in team-based care and demonstrate a strong sense of respect, compassion, empathy, and humanism in their professional interactions. Students should consistently display cultural humility and a willingness to learn from others with different backgrounds and experiences. Students should identify conscious and unconscious biases in the context of providing patient care, and employ strategies to mitigate their effects.	Students should consistently demonstrate respect, compassion, empathy, and humanism in all interactions. Students should consistently display cultural humility, continuously learning from diverse perspectives and experiences, fostering inclusivity in all aspects of care. Students should identify conscious and unconscious biases in the context of providing patient care, and employ strategies to mitigate their effects.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should begin to recognize ethical dilemmas and demonstrate integrity and respect for human values. Students should respect the importance of patient confidentiality and autonomy and demonstrate knowledge about the ethical responsibilities related to social media and technology in healthcare. Students should reliably and thoroughly complete tasks, meeting deadlines and fulfilling obligations.	Students should demonstrate ethical reasoning in all patient care decisions and interactions, consistently model integrity and respect for humanistic values, consistently maintain confidentiality, respect patient autonomy, and utilize technology and social media ethically in their practice. Students should consistently demonstrate an organized approach to professional duties to ensure timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness across all professional settings.	Students should be able to recognize and address ethical dilemmas, consistently model ethical behavior and high standards of integrity, and uphold humanistic values in their practice. Students should consistently maintain patient privacy and confidentiality, and uphold the highest ethical standards in using technology and social media in healthcare settings. Students should be consistently reliable, complete tasks on time in an organized, timely, and efficient manner and to a high standard across all professional settings.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should begin to recognize the importance of maintaining well-being and seek help when their well-being is affected.	Students should prioritize their well-being, recognize when it may impact their performance and seek help when needed, and begin to identify aspects of medicine that bring joy and meaning to their work.	Students should have strategies in place to maintain personal well-being to support their professional performance and resilience. Students should identify those aspects of medical practice that bring joy and meaning to their individual work to sustain personal satisfaction.

Medical Knowledge

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate a knowledge of basic biomedical sciences and epidemiology of disease. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge about the normal structure and function of human organ systems and how they maintain homeostasis, the response and clinical presentation of human organ systems to injury or dysfunction, and how injury and dysfunction can be minimized.	Students should apply their foundational biomedical knowledge to clinical scenarios and integrate it into their clinical reasoning and diagnostic approach. Students should be able to recognize normal physiology and pathology and use this knowledge to inform patient care.	Students should use their advanced understanding of the biomedical sciences and integrate it into clinical decision-making. Students should be able to independently apply foundational knowledge to complex patient care situations and clinical problems.

Patient Care and Procedural Skills

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should gather a basic medical history that includes social determinants of health in a simulated setting.	Students should gather a complete and focused history from patients and other data sources such as families and electronic health records, taking into consideration factors that affect health.	Students should gather complete and focused histories from patients and other data sources in an organized manner appropriate to the clinical situation, utilizing all relevant data sources, and recognize factors influencing health outcomes.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate basic physical exam techniques in a simulated setting.	Students should perform comprehensive and focused physical exams, accurately interpreting abnormalities and maintaining patient comfort.	Students should conduct comprehensive and focused physical exams, accurately and efficiently interpreting abnormalities while maintaining patient comfort.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge about urgent/emergent care and basic triage principles.	Students should identify clinical emergencies and be able to seek the assistance of others.	Students should identify clinical emergencies, begin to develop evaluation and management plans to guide care, and seek appropriate resources and assistance when necessary.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge about disease required to formulate a differential diagnosis, basic diagnostic testing and result information, general therapeutic approaches, and prevention for common conditions. Students should be able to synthesize clinical data and apply their biomedical knowledge to demonstrate basic clinical reasoning skills by creating a differential diagnoses in simulated or standardized patient encounters. Students should demonstrate knowledge of the role of emerging technologies in healthcare delivery, including risks and benefits.	Students should create and present differential diagnoses based on clinical information and evidence, propose and interpret tests relevant to differential diagnoses and develop patient-specific management plans, including prevention, for common clinical conditions. Students should begin to use emerging technologies responsibly in the clinical care of patients, taking into consideration risks and benefits.	Students should create and present accurately prioritized and refined differential diagnoses to guide patient care, select and interpret diagnostic tests to support clinical decision-making, and formulate and execute comprehensive management plans, including prevention, for common and more complex conditions, recognizing when a plan of care needs to change. Students should use emerging technologies responsibly in the clinical care of patients, taking into consideration risks and benefits.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge about disease required to formulate a differential diagnosis, basic diagnostic testing and result information, general therapeutic approaches, and prevention for common conditions. Students should be able to synthesize and document clinical data and apply their biomedical knowledge to demonstrate basic clinical reasoning skills by creating a differential diagnoses in simulated or standardized patient encounters.	Students should create and document differential diagnoses based on clinical information and evidence, propose and interpret tests relevant to differential diagnoses, and develop patient-specific management plans, including prevention, for common clinical conditions.	Students should document accurately prioritized and refined differential diagnoses to guide patient care, select and interpret diagnostic tests to support clinical decision-making, document comprehensive management plans, including prevention, for common and more complex conditions, and recognize when a plan of care needs to change.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge of anatomy, indications for common procedures, and the components of universal precautions.	Students should observe, assist, or perform basic procedures as detailed in clerkship learning objectives, under supervision, using universal precautions and sterile techniques, and demonstrate knowledge of indications, contraindications, and consent.	Students should perform basic procedures safely and correctly, under supervision, attending to patient comfort in clinical settings using universal precautions and sterile techniques, demonstrating knowledge of indications, contraindications, and informed consent.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should reliably and thoroughly complete tasks, meeting deadlines and fulfilling obligations, while recognizing when to seek assistance.	Students should consistently complete tasks on time, demonstrating efficiency, organization, and a commitment to excellence, while proactively seeking assistance when necessary.	Students should consistently complete tasks on time, demonstrating efficiency, organization, and a commitment to excellence, while proactively seeking assistance when necessary.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should engage in self-reflection and seek out feedback to identify their strengths and learning needs to develop learning goals and action plans to improve skills. Students should demonstrate the ability to begin to recognize their limits, seek help appropriately, admit mistakes, and take actions to correct them.	Students should assess their clinical performance regularly, seek out and incorporate feedback to identify their strengths and areas for improvement to identify learning goals and create action plans. Students should take ownership of mistakes, address them, and use them as opportunities for improvement in professional behavior and clinical care. Students should consistently seek help when needed and demonstrate self-awareness about knowledge gaps.	Students should use reflective practice and feedback as an ongoing tool for personal and professional development, consistently evaluate and improve their clinical skills, and create and reassess their professional learning goals throughout their careers to ensure mastery and continuous improvement. Students should consistently acknowledge and take ownership of their mistakes, hold themselves accountable, and use mistakes as opportunities for growth and improvement. Students should consistently seek help when needed and demonstrate self-awareness about knowledge gaps.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should recognize the importance of curiosity and seek knowledge to fill gaps in their understanding. Students should demonstrate a basic understanding of research methodology and should be able to identify reliable sources of scientific literature and critically appraise it.	Students should actively seek new information in areas of clinical practice that are unfamiliar or challenging. Students should actively use evidence-based practices in clinical decision-making and assess the applicability of research to individual patient cases.	Students should continuously identify and address knowledge gaps, integrating critically appraised and up-to-date research findings into clinical practice to continuously improve patient care using evidence informed decision making, integrating scientific knowledge into clinical care. Students should demonstrate the ability to contribute to new knowledge, conduct independent research, and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of collaboration in a healthcare team and begin developing basic skills for working within interdisciplinary teams, including principles of teamwork and respect. Students should be able to give constructive feedback in a way that supports the professional growth of others.	Students should actively engage with team members to address patient needs and demonstrate awareness of team dynamics and professional roles in a manner that maintains a climate of mutual respect, dignity, integrity, diversity, inclusiveness, and trust among all team members. Students should offer feedback to colleagues in a respectful, constructive manner.	Students should contribute effectively within interprofessional teams to promote patient-centered care while respecting the roles of others in a manner that maintains a climate of respect, dignity, integrity, diversity, inclusiveness, and trust among all team members. Students should offer feedback to colleagues in a respectful, constructive manner.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should practice listening attentively in all interactions, seek clarification when needed, and begin to apply principles of shared decision-making in simulated and standardized patient encounters.	Students should demonstrate active listening in all clinical interactions to understand patient concerns and needs. Students should demonstrate the ability to educate patients, families, and caregivers using patient-centered language to describe common diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and plans.	Students should demonstrate active listening in all professional settings to foster strong, compassionate relationships with patients, families, and caregivers. Students should demonstrate the ability to educate patients, families, and caregivers using patient-centered language to describe common diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and plans, and tailor communication based on the needs of patients, including cultural and literacy considerations.

Systems-Based Practice

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge about health system sciences, including health policy, the financial context of healthcare delivery, and key health system stakeholders and structures, the importance of social and structural determinants of health, basic concepts of health disparities and equity, including how social factors affect patient care.	Students should apply knowledge of health system sciences to inform patient care and begin to assess the impact of social determinants of health and patient values and preferences on patient care in clinical settings. Students should demonstrate the ability to analyze barriers in healthcare delivery that contribute to disparities and begin identifying solutions to advance health equity in care.	Students should apply knowledge of health system sciences and social determinants to assess health-related behaviors. Students should guide medical decisions that ensure equitable and patient centered care and demonstrate the ability to identify healthcare disparities, advocating for change, and promoting health equity in patient care and health systems.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate flexibility in adapting to various teams and settings, and adjust communication styles based on the situation.	Students should demonstrate flexibility in adapting to various teams and settings, understand the balance between patient needs and healthcare team dynamics, and adjust communication styles based on the situation.	Students should demonstrate flexibility in adapting to various teams and settings, understand the balance between patient needs and healthcare team dynamics, and adjust their communication and behavior fluidly across a wide range of professional and clinical settings.

Pre-Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 1)	Clerkship Milestone (End of Core 2)	Post-Clerkship Milestone (Graduation)
Students should demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of patient safety and quality improvement, including common systems issues. Students should understand the importance of clear communication in patient transitions.	Students should identify and contribute to quality improvement initiatives by recognizing patient safety concerns. Students should apply knowledge of the healthcare system to help coordinate patient care within and across health systems.	Students should identify and contribute to quality improvement initiatives, employing systems approaches and patient safety tools to enhance care delivery and improve health outcomes. Students should manage transitions of care, ensuring continuity, clarity, and safety, while coordinating effectively with other healthcare providers and teams.

The Medical Education Program Objects were most recently approved and updated for January 1, 2025.

Medical Education Program Objectives

Professionalism

P1. Demonstrates respect, compassion, empathy, and humanism for patients, caregivers, families, and team members, demonstrating humility and a willingness to learn from others with different backgrounds and experiences while also identifying personal biases and strategies to mitigate their effects.

P2. Uses ethical principles and reasoning to guide behavior including safeguarding patient privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy and completes professional duties in a thorough, reliable, efficient, organized, and timely manner.

P3. Identifies aspects of medicine that bring joy and meaning to one's individual work, and recognizes and addresses personal well-being needs that may impact professional performance.

Medical Knowledge

MK1. Demonstrates knowledge of basic, clinical, and pathophysiologic sciences needed for clinical practice.

Patient Care and Procedural Skills

PC1. Gathers relevant patient histories from multiple data sources.

PC2. Performs relevant physical examinations using appropriate techniques.

PC3. Identifies patients in need of urgent or emergent care, seeks assistance, and recommends initial evaluation and management.

PC4. Creates and presents a prioritized differential diagnosis, hypothesis-driven diagnostic testing and interpretation, and therapeutic management plans that consider disease prevention, for commonly encountered clinical conditions.

PC5. Creates and documents a prioritized differential diagnosis, hypothesis-driven diagnostic testing and interpretation, and therapeutic management plans, including prevention, for commonly encountered clinical conditions.

PC6. Practices the basic principles of universal precautions when participating in procedures.

PC7. Completes professional duties and tasks in an efficient, organized, and timely manner and seeks assistance when needed.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

PBLI2. Locates, critically appraises, and synthesizes information to support evidence-informed, patient-centered clinical decisions and advances medicine through scholarly pursuit.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

ICS1. Collaborates with all team members to enhance the therapeutic relationship, team and organizational function, and shares feedback constructively with others.

Systems-Based Practice

SBP1. Demonstrates knowledge of health system sciences needed for clinical practice, describes the importance of social and structural determinants of health, and recognizes and addresses disparities to advance health equity in patient care and health care systems.

SBP2. Adapts communication and performance to various health care teams, delivery settings, and systems.

SBP3. Identifies patient safety concerns, systems issues, and opportunities for quality improvement, and collaborates in transitions and coordination of patient care.