stethoscopePractice of Medicine 2

Module Description

This longitudinal module is designed to integrate theoretical knowledge with essential clinical skills early in medical education. This module systematically develops students' abilities in patient assessment, history taking, physical examination, communication, and ethical decision-making, laying the groundwork for their future clinical practice. Through interactive workshops, simulated and real patient encounters, and reflective practice, students will begin to cultivate the core competencies necessary for patient care. The module emphasizes the importance of professionalism, patient-centered communication, and the basics of clinical reasoning, preparing students for their subsequent clinical rotations, and fostering a lifelong commitment to excellence in medicine.


Module Goals

  • To perform a hypothesis-directed medical history and contextual physical examination

  • To identify and interpret abnormal diagnostic auscultatory findings

  • To employ common approaches to clinical reasoning and apply to clinical scenarios

  • To communicate patient findings and clinical reasoning via clear, logical written documentation

  • To develop familiarity with appropriate utilization of the electronic health record

  • To begin using advanced communication and interpersonal skills in medical interviewing

  • Apply concepts in medical ethics to clinical scenarios


Module Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, students will:

Module Learning Objectives
Medical Education Program Objective

Formulate a complete, comprehensive, and/or problem-oriented accurate medical history incorporating skillful communication techniques and clinical reasoning skills.

  • MEPO 1: Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests 

  • MEPO 8: Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients

  • MEPO 19: Communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds 

Perform a comprehensive and contextual physical examination of a patient appropriate to the patient’s clinical scenario

MEPO 1: Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests 

Formulate a differential diagnosis, summary statement, assessment and preliminary plan based on information gleaned from the history and physical examination.

  • MEPO 2: Interpret laboratory data, imaging studies, and other tests required for the area of practice 

  • MEPO 3: make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

  • MEPO 8: Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients

  • MEPO 9: Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care 

Demonstrate some advanced communication skills, including triadic interviewing and discussing Advanced Directives

  • MEPO 5: Counsel and educate patients and their families so that they can participate in their care and enable shared decision making

  • MEPO 11: Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences to the delivery of healthcare

  • MEPO 19: Communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds 

Demonstrate the professional attributes required for effective patient-physician and interprofessional relationships

  • MEPO 16: Exhibit the behaviors of honesty, integrity, and respect in interactions with peers, staff, faculty, and patients. 

  • MEPO 17: Evaluate one’s personal, professional and educational needs through reflection and utilize resources to meet those needs

  • MEPO 18: Employ strategies for seeking, receiving, acting upon, and delivering feedback 

  • MEPO 20: Communicate effectively with colleagues within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies 

  • MEPO 21: Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records 

Navigate a simulated electronic health record to extract, interpret, and document clinical information

  • MEPO 20: Communicate effectively with colleagues within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies 

  • MEPO 21: Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records 

Last updated