Educational Objectives

The medical school Educational Objectives were revised and approved by the MECC in November 2019 and reviewed in 2021. In the fall of 2023, the MECC created an ad hoc committee to review and update the Educational Program Objectives with particular attention to the use of competency- based terms, allowing for assessment of student progress that were approved by MECC January 2024.

Patient Care

All students will demonstrate the ability to provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health as part of the inter-professional team.

1.01 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.
1.02 Perform general patient care procedures of a physician.
1.03 Develop and carry out patient management plans that are safe, effective, and efficient, to maintain health and treat disease
1.04 Counsel and educate patients and their families to empower them to participate in their care and enable shared decision making.
1.05 Discuss fiscally responsible health care services with patients and families.

Knowledge for Practice

All students will demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

2.01 Apply knowledge of normal human structure and function and of the pathophysiology that underlies their disruption.
2.02 Interpret and apply results of the patient history, physical exam, diagnostic tests, imaging, screening procedures, and epidemiological data.
2.03 Apply knowledge of the social, behavioral, and economic factors that influence health to patient care.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

All students will demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills commensurate with their role, that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals.

3.01 Communicate effectively and professionally through oral and written means.
3.02 Work effectively in teams, including interprofessional teams.
3.03 Develop skills in leadership to prepare for the physician’s role in society.
3.04 Communicate effectively, respectfully, and compassionately with patients and families, maintaining patient privacy and autonomy.
3.05 Serve as a role model to peers and junior students.
3.06 Teach others, commensurate with one's roles, abilities, and qualifications.

Personal and Professional Development

All students will adhere to professional standards and demonstrate the qualities required to sustain lifelong personal and professional growth.

4.01 Demonstrate the professional and behavioral attributes of a physician including honesty, integrity, compassion, tolerance, altruism, reliability, and respect for patient confidentiality.
4.02 Incorporate ethical standards in their interactions with patients and colleagues and appropriately manage conflicts in order to uphold patient and public trust.
4.03 Demonstrate skills for maintenance of personal wellness.
4.04 Recognize limitations in knowledge, skills and attitudes, demonstrating a commitment to lifelong, self-directed learning and self-improvement and incorporating feedback into daily practice.
4.05 Demonstrate responsiveness and adaptability to change, uncertainty, and ambiguity.

Critical thinking and discovery

All students will be able to critically appraise literature, apply knowledge and engage in scholarly activity.

5.01 Demonstrate the critical thinking employed during clinical reasoning to reach a prioritized differential diagnosis in patient encounters.
5.02 Apply the ability to access and critically read, understand, and interpret medical literature, and assess its relevance to patient care.
5.03 Complete a scholarly activity, recognize knowledge gaps, and demonstrate self-directed learning to address such gaps for the purpose of furthering medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.
5.04 Disseminate knowledge gained by scholarly activities to fellow physicians and scientists through oral or written presentations.

Health Care systems and society

All students will demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.

6.01 Demonstrate the ability to advocate for patients and discuss methods of advocacy at the societal level.
6.02 Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of health care teams, transitions of care between teams, and the features of highly effective teamwork and team communication.
6.03 Identify shortcomings, gaps, potential costs, and wasteful practices in patient care then develop improvement strategies for health care systems to ensure the delivery of safe, high quality, and high value patient care.
6.04 Provide health care with cultural humility and an appreciation for the needs of diverse patient populations, whether based on age, appearance, ethnicity, culture, disability, economic status, gender, or sexual orientation.