Undergraduate Medical Education

The Office of Undergraduate Medical Education has established itself as an innovative leader in training physicians. The interdisciplinary Science and Practice of Medicine 100 and 200 courses and the state-of-the-art Isidore Cohn Student Learning Center were created to integrate clinical teaching with basic science education in the first two years of medical school.  Students develop competence in the fundamentals of history taking, physical examination, clinical problem solving, medical ethics, preventive medicine, and basic medical procedures in a variety of laboratory, classroom, and clinical settings. Direct observation and feedback from our clinical faculty is a mainstay of our educational program in the first two years.  Through basic and advanced simulation exercises, students practice difficult procedures in a laboratory setting before performing them on patients.  Along with this emphasis on clinical teaching, we remain committed to a sound basic science curriculum. Our courses in anatomy, cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, neuroscience, pathology, microbiology, clinical pathology, and pharmacology provide rigorous preparation for Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

During the third and fourth years of school, our students receive excellent clinical training in a diverse range of public and private hospitals and clinics. Most clerkship rotations are completed in New Orleans, but students may complete some rotations at hospitals in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The core third year clerkships are internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, and neurology.  While on these rotations in hospitals and clinics, all third year students also utilize the Human Simulation Lab where they have the opportunity to independently manage patients with a variety of different conditions.  While we recently created an elective rotation in the third year, there is ample elective time in the fourth year to explore specialties of interest and finalize a choice of residency.  Several required courses in the fourth year are specifically designed to prepare students for their residency.  These include two Acting Internships as well as our new Critical Concepts course.  This new course prepares students to recognize and manage a diverse set of medical emergencies.  The didactic portion of the course is supplemented with simulation training, as well as clinical rotations in an emergency room and intensive care units.  The coursework during the third and fourth years gives students an opportunity to experience a variety of medical disciplines while preparing for residency and practice as a physician.

Upon graduation, we feel certain that our students have attained the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes to meet the challenges faced by interns in every specialty.

Richard DiCarlo, MD
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education

Robin English, MD
Director of Clinical Science Curriculum

Michael Levitzky, PhD
Director of Basic Science Curriculum

Jennifer Jeansonne
Coordinator, Undergraduate Medical Education

Office of Undergraduate Medical Education
LSUHSC, School of Medicine
2020 Gravier St., Suite 602
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-568-4620 (Phone)
504-599-1453 (Fax)