Becoming a Doctor IV

Catalog Description: The Becoming a Doctor series is an integrated, longitudinal, on-campus required educational activity focused on empowering students to transition successfully and resiliently into the role of physician. Through plenary, seminar and workshop sessions, students will develop knowledge and skills in reflective practice and advanced clinical skills, and also participate in activities that foster professional identity formation. 

Sites: 

Required session attendance

Typical weekly schedule/Delivery Mode: 4 full days; synchronous sessions

Direct patient care: No

Consent Requirement: Students will be automatically scheduled for Becoming A Doctor during the intersession period. If you believe you have a conflicting commitment that prohibits you from attending at least 50% of the required course sessions, you must submit a Petition for Alternate Arrangements.

Course Objectives:

1. Professional identity formation:
   Reflect upon experiences that have shaped their educational and professional journey toward becoming a physician. Consider and propose skills and strategies to further develop their professional identity and impact as a future physician, for example, involvement with health policy, advocacy or special interests.
2. Reflective practice:
   Practice using reflection individually and collectively to derive meaning from learning and experiences, to increase insight, empathy, and flexibility, to support mental health and resilience, and to create a safe, supportive environment that encourages continuous personal growth and professional improvement.
3. Advanced Clinical Skills:
   Develop and demonstrate competence in key clinical areas necessary for modern medical practice, that build upon and complement other aspects of the curriculum, including but not limited to, communication skills, patient interviewing techniques, point of care ultrasonography, safe approach to opioid prescribing, ethics and medical decision-making.
4. Community Formation:
   Evaluate current healthcare needs, concerns and related issues facing the diverse communities from which patients are drawn. Develop and demonstrate empathy, adaptability, inclusion, collaboration, and motivation to seek continuous improvement as both a member of the community of medical practice and the community at-large.

Graded Components: 

• Attendance

• Completion of reflective assignments

Grading Scale: Pass/Fail