Curriculum for 4-Year MD Program in New Orleans, Louisiana

The first two years of the medical school curriculum emphasize several basic sciences and their relevancy to clinical medicine. Clinical experiences, including required rotations with physicians, begin in the first year in courses such as Science and Practice of Medicine. This course has three components: computer based cases which will be assigned on a weekly basis in order to ensure that students develop early skills at clinical problem solving; small group discussion on issues important to the practice of medicine; clinical experiences in patient care settings and procedure laboratories where students learn to perform various clinical procedures such as lumbar punctures, intubations, etc. The second year of medical school utilizes an integrated approach to the teaching of basic science and pre-clinical courses within an environment that fosters a continued exposure to patient care. Clerkships begin in the third year, in which students rotate through the various clinical disciplines. In the fourth year, students are given several months for electives in addition to required rotations, such as Ambulatory Medicine and Acting Internships. Some of these rotations can be completed at the institutions associated with the LSU School of Medicine throughout the state or at other approved institutions outside the state or country.

Computer-assisted instruction is an important component of the curriculum. Medical students are required to purchase specially configured laptop computers from the School of Medicine so that they can access current teaching technologies and other on-line information. Many of the learning experiences of the four year curriculum occur in the Learning Center, which can be seen on video at www.learningcenter.lsuhsc.edu.

Although major emphasis is placed on training primary-care physicians, many opportunities for research and the pursuit of more specialized training are available. Several Centers of Excellence provide opportunities for research and training in areas such as cancer, neuroscience, genetics, alcohol and drug abuse, and asthma.