Weill Cornell Medical College notes on its website that its science curriculum is progressive in the sense that it is focused on learning in small groups rather than in lectures. First- and second-year medical school students are taught by way of a problem-based learning approach. This means that students solve medical problems by first identifying issues, followed by locating information. Students discuss what they have learned in small groups led by medical school faculty. Additionally, students spend time in physicians' offices in the greater New York City area in order to learn how to interview patients and conduct physical examinations under supervision. The third and fourth years of medical school are spent in clinical rotations as well as finishing required courses and electives.
Weill Cornell Medical College
Office of Admissions
445 East 69th Street, Room 104
New York, NY 10021
212-746-1067
med.cornell.edu
In 2009, Johns Hopkins implemented a new curriculum known as Genes to Society, or GTS. This new curriculum teaches students biology from the cellular level, beginning in the first year of medical school. First year students learn about organ systems and genetics and spend a half-day each week in a health clinic. The GTS curriculum sidesteps traditional rote learning methods and allows students to learn by way of hands-on patient experience from the first year of medical school. Beginning in the second year, Hopkins students begin the clinical clerkships, or rotations, that continue into the third and fourth years.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Office of Admissions
733 North Broadway, Suite G-49
Baltimore, MD 21205-2196
410-955-3182
hopkinsmedicine.org
In order to meet its goals of modern laboratory and science training as well as assisting students in becoming experts in a specialized subject area, Stanford University developed a new medical school curriculum. Students benefit from blocks of unscheduled time for study and research, the opportunity to select an area of concentration such as clinical research or community health, and patient care experience during the first two years of medical school. Additionally, a mentoring program was established in 2008 that pairs medical students with faculty members.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Office of MD Admissions
251 Campus Drive West, MSOB X3C01
Stanford, CA 94305-5404
650-723-6861
med.stanford.edu
As part of the revamped curriculum at Harvard Medical School, first-year students complete a week-long course that serves as an introduction to medical profession. Students then progress to basic science classes and begin to learn how to communicate with and diagnose patients. Clinical studies start in earnest during the second year. Under the new Harvard Medical School curriculum, students complete a "principal clinical experience," whereby students participate in clerkships in medical specialty areas such as pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and radiology. Harvard Medical School students also have the opportunity to engage in research and produce a scholarly paper based on research conducted during the course of their medical school studies.
Harvard Medical School
25 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115
617-432-1000
hms.harvard.edu
The Curriculum 2000 initiative at UPenn's medical school was designed in order to integrate the study of science and clinical practice for students throughout all four years of medical school. This integration begins during the first year. Students begin their medical education with basic science classes as well as a course in the practice of medicine where they develop communication skills. Classes are held in small groups and students have three unscheduled afternoons each week to volunteer at a clinic or conduct research projects. The Curriculum 2000 initiative teaches students how to utilize information technology by providing online lectures in real-time, as well as access to the university's biomedical library. A medical simulation center affords students the opportunity to train in clinical skills and participate in computer-based simulations.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Suite 100, Stemmler Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6056
215-898-8001
med.upenn.edu