General Information

The course of study leading to the FIU MD degree involves the study of the strands of Human Biology; Human Disease; Clinical Medicine skills competencies and Community Health all combined with development of life-long Professional Skills Behaviors and Attitudes.  The degree program is preparation for advanced study (Graduate Medical Education, residency) in an area of medical specialization followed by clinical practice, for research, for health care policy administration or for other related pursuits. The curriculum is thus designed for achievement of broad competencies in scientific and medical knowledge, clinical skills, critical thinking and professional behavior. The emphasis in each of four sequential temporal periods differs, but each strand listed above is covered throughout.

The curriculum encompasses four years of study in five major thematic strands Human Biology (core sciences); Disease Illness and Injury (pathology); Clinical Medicine; Professional Development; and Medicine & Society (cultural competence). Each of these strands has its own distinct set of courses, which are offered in sequential fashion; courses in each of the 5 strands run concurrently in all periods. Initially the overall focus (period 1) is on understanding the core scientific principles; however, development of the required skills, behaviors and attitudes for clinical medicine is concurrently instilled as well.

Next, the second period emphasizes anatomy and pathology of human disease, while reinforcing scientific principles introduced earlier. In the third period clerkship year direct clinical experiences are combined with translational application of medical advances, applying an evidence-based updated approach to management of medical illness.  The final period involves advanced clinical medicine, scholarship and varied clinical experiences in multiple medical specialties.

The entire curriculum is outcome based. Courses are based on learning objectives which in turn were selected in order to fulfill competencies expected for graduation.  Active, self-directed learning, small group learning, and individual scholarship are expected to be the primary modes of learning in the FIU COM Curriculum.  Less than 30% of instruction will be in the form of lecture. Problem-based clinical cases will be favored as the basis for study. Throughout, instruction is predicated on three successive levels,  1) initial introduction, recognition of terminology and understanding in broad context of human biology;  2) understanding clinical context of disease, illness and injury; and finally,  3) application of knowledge and skills in the diagnosis and management of clinical problems.

Students will develop a portfolio that documents their knowledge, skill and behavioral development. This portfolio will aid both students and faculty in measuring and achieving competencies, further providing a logbook of experiences in fulfillment of requirements for entry into postgraduate study. 

Curriculum Details

Medicine & Society

A special feature of the FIU curriculum is our Medicine and Society strand, a four year sequence of courses encompassing experiences in the community. This goal is to enable students to gain an understanding of factors that affect personal and community health care, thus producing culturally competent physicians. Experience will be gained in multi-professional health care delivery. Students will work with families and communities in teams of health care professionals (physicians, nurses, social case workers, public health workers). One medical and one nursing student will function as a team to study personal health, community health, health care services, health systems and social factors that impact individual and community health. Students will engage in projects to improve health in the communities in which they study. 

The curriculum has four sequential periods of study:

Period 1 (August through March year 1) covers 32 weeks from early August through March.

This period provides the foundations of medicine, both core sciences and social sciences. Core medical sciences include medical genetics, cell biology, general body anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, homeostasis and energy metabolism, pharmacology, microbiology and infections, pathogens and response to attacks and injury. Organ specific anatomy and histology are deferred until period 2. An introduction to clinical skills focuses in period 1on doctor-patient communication, general physical exam, foundations of evidence based medicine and quantitative measurements, medical research design and conduct. Course work in Medicine and Society is designed to prepare students for their forthcoming experiences in community health care.

Period 2 (April year 1 through March year 2) begins in April and ends the following March, with a two month break in June and July. This period of eight courses covers each of the major organ systems: Hematopoetic Lymphoreticular Systems and Neoplasia; Reproductive Systems; Gastrointestinal System and Nutrition; Musculoskeletal System, and Skin; Endocrine System; Renal Urinary System; Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems; Nervous System: Brain and Behavior. Anatomy and pathology will be taught in organ specific context, as will pharmacologic agents. Core principles of cell biology, medical genetics, physiology and pharmacology are reintroduced in these organ system courses, built around discussions of cases affecting that organ system.  Simultaneously, courses in the strands of Professional Development, Clinical Medicine and Medicine & Society continue. Physical diagnosis, laboratory medicine and imaging technology are covered in Clinical Medicine, as is inter-professional communication. Vertical integration will be assured through illustrative cases, further indicating professional behaviors and appreciation of social factors. These cases will be identified by students during in their community health projects (Medicine & Society).

At the end of period 2, a clinical skills evaluation (OSCE) will be required prior to clerkship experience.

Period 3 (April year 2 through March year 3) is 48 weeks in duration. Its emphasis is clinical medicine, through clerkships, of varying length in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, Family Medicine and Neurology. Students will pursue outpatient, hospital, simulation and didactic study during this period. Students will have individual schedules, in groups of two or three with a faculty member in the specialty area.  Throughout the year each Friday will be devoted to in depth studies of illustrative cases, using lecture and problem based formats to reinforce scientific principles introduced earlier (periods 1 and 2). Community and family projects will continue. Expressly devised FIU educational programs in cardiac life support, stroke, emergency, neurology and bioterrorism will be scheduled during this period.

Students will be expected to pass step 1 of the USMLE medical licensure exam at the end of Period 3

Period 4 (April year 3 through May year 4) is devoted to advanced medicine, allowing scholarship and exploration of specialty areas to facilitate choice of post graduate study.  This period covers fourteen months (two months vacation). Each course is one month in duration, and students will make individualized schedules that best serve their long term goals.

Six (6) of the one month rotations are targeted selectives: 1 month sub-internship, 2 months surgical subspecialties, 2 months non-surgical subspecialties, and 1 month hospital based specialty.  Two additional months are dedicated to research.

A one month capstone for the Professional Development strand emphasizes health care economics and policies, whereas a 1 month capstone for Medicine and Society strand will be used to complete community based research projects.  The final two months are for genuine electives. The USMLE step II examination (CS and CK) must be completed during this 14 month period.