Office of Medical Education

School of Medicine Curriculum 

The curriculum goals and the educational program objectives required for all students align with core competency areas determined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).  Our curriculum is designed to train physicians who are capable of success in any graduate medical education program.  It instills the knowledge, skills, behavior, and professional attitudes commensurate with best medical practice.  Our graduates become critical thinkers who are committed to life-long learning in order to adapt to the changing landscape of clinical care.  Our graduates can effectively work in health care teams to serve their communities and deliver excellent care to their patients.

Click here for the LSU School of Medicine Curriculum Goals

Click here for the LSU School of Medicine Educational Program Objectives

 

The preclerkship phase occurs on the New Orleans campus for all students.   Year One courses are primarily discipline-based with a few centralized, longitudinal courses aimed at the development of clinical and communication skills.  Year One courses are:

• Gross Anatomy
• Biochemistry
• Human Behavior and Development
• Human Physiology
• Introduction to Medical Genetics
• Cell Biology and Microanatomy
• Introduction to Medical Immunology
• Clinical Skills Integration
• Health Equity Leadership for Physicians
• Foundations of Population Medicine and Health Systems

Year Two courses are organ system-based courses and continuation of two centralized, longitudinal courses from the first year.  Students have opportunities to participate in electives this year in order to assist with career planning.  Year Two courses are:

• Foundations of Disease and Therapy
• Neuroscience and Diseases and Therapy of the Neuro-psychiatric Systems
• Diseases and Therapy of the Renal System
• Diseases and Therapy of the Cardiovascular System
• Diseases and Therapy of the Pulmonary System
• Diseases and Therapy of the Reproductive and Endocrine Systems
• Diseases and Therapy of the Hematology System
• Diseases and Therapy of the Gastrointestinal System
• Diseases and Therapy of the Musculoskeletal and Dermatologic Systems
• Clinical Skills Integration
• Health Equity Leadership for Physicians

 

Year Three begins with a one-week Clerkship Preparation Course, followed by required core clinical clerkships and an elective that students choose to assist with career planning.  Clerkships include inpatient and outpatient experiences and specialty-specific didactics, as well as teaching sessions that continue longitudinal curriculum threads.  Students participate in rotations that include both general and subspecialty care.  Students at the regional campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette complete all of their third year rotations at those sites.  Students who are based at the primary campus in New Orleans may complete all of their rotations in New Orleans or may complete some of them at regional sites.  Year Three courses are:

• Pediatrics Clerkship
• Family Medicine Clerkship
• Internal Medicine Clerkship
• Surgery Clerkship
• Neurology Clerkship
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
• Psychiatry Clerkship
• Career Planning Elective

Year Four is very flexible, allowing students to tailor their experiences to their chosen field of specialty.  Students are allowed to take four electives and three months of “flex” time to pursue interests and interview for residency programs.  Four courses are required for all students.  These required Year Four courses are:

• Critical Concepts
• Primary Acting Internship
• Secondary Acting Internship
• Special Topics