Course Descriptions

In this 1-week course, students: 1) consider the role of the medical school in New Mexico and in the health of its population, 2) examine the role of clinicians in managing the health of individuals and populations with a focus on the major causes of ill health, 3) learn the complex etiologies of health, wellness and illness with a focus on NM, including the role of social determinants of health and 4) experience the role of partners outside of the medical school in improving health of NM residents.

Block Chair: Felisha Rohan-Minjares, MD

Clinical Morphology is a 9-week block that overviews normal human anatomy, histology, embryology, and imaging as they relate to clinical practice. The block uses large and small group interactive learning and dissection laboratories to meet its objectives.

Block Chairs: Julie Jordan, DPT; Rebecca Hartley, PhD

Molecular Foundations of Medicine is a 5-week block that focuses on the molecular, cellular, and genetic foundations of modern medicine. The block reviews fundamentals of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and basic pharmacology in the context of normal and abnormal cellular function and human disorders.

Block Chairs: Devon Chabot-Richards, MD; Mara Steinkamp, PhD

Microbiology and Immunology is a 5-week block introducing students to basic immunology and foundational concepts in medical microbiology and infectious diseases in preparation for the organ system-based courses. The course covers the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response, how immunity promotes both health and disease, and the basics of bacteriology, virology, with specific focus on immunity to specific pathogens.

Block Chairs: Judy Cannon, PhD; Michael Mandell, PhD

Concepts in Pathology and Tissue Morphology is a 5-week block introducing fundamental concepts in pathology, histopathology, and neoplasia. Anti-neoplastic pharmacology is introduced, and relevant topics in histology reviewed for emphasis. The second half of the course covers common musculoskeletal pathologies and dermatology.

Block Chairs: Anthony Cretara, MD; Nikifor Konstantinov, MD

Hematology is a 4-week block that overviews basic principles of hematology and hemostasis. This course builds on concepts established during MFM, CPTM and M&I in the consideration of the diseases of the circulating elements of blood.

Block Chairs: TBD; Nicole Deshmukh, MD

Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Renal is an 11-week block that provides a foundation in the basic sciences of these three organ systems and problem-solving skills related to these disciplines. Included in this block are relevant topics in physiology, pharmacology, and pathology.

Block Chairs: Patrick Rendón, MD; Jens Langsjoen, MD

A 2-week course that applies the principles of epidemiology, study design, and biostatistics to health care data and research. Using active learning modalities in the classroom, these basic principles of epidemiology and biostatistics are applied to clinically relevant scenarios. The course utilizes an evidence-based practice framework to inform decisions for optimal patient care.

Block Chairs: Jens Langsjoen, MD; Jonathan Eldredge, PhD

Gastrointestinal, Nutrition, Metabolism is a 6-week block that examines the principal biological features of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the pathophysiology associated with certain disorders of this system, fundamental concepts of nutrition in maintaining and restoring patient health, and metabolic events that regulate energy production and energy balance.

Block Chair: Patrick Rendón, MD; Biochemistry Lead: Meilan Liu, PhD

Neuroscience is a 10-week block designed to provide students with a foundation in neuroscience including neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuropathology, and behavioral neurosciences. Basic concepts are learned within the context of neurological and psychiatric disease.

Block Chairs: Fernando Valenzuela, MD, PhD; Jonathan Brigman, PhD; Poone Tehrani, MD

Human Sexuality, Reproduction and Endocrinology is a 5-week block that focuses on the basic science and important clinicopathologic aspects of the human reproductive and endocrine systems. The block’s content includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of all aspects of the male and female reproductive systems; pregnancy and its complications from fertilization to the postpartum period; and psychosocial, medico-legal, and ethical aspects of gender, sexuality, and reproduction.

Block Chairs: Carolyn Smith-Lin, MD; Teodor Duro, MD

Infectious Disease is a 5-week capstone block designed to apply the basic concepts of microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology learned in previous blocks to the understanding of host and pathogen interactions in infectious disease in all organ systems.

Block Chair: Bethany McMaster, MD

An integrated curriculum designed to (1) explicitly model and actively engage students in the clinical reasoning process during block relevant case discussions, (2) provide structure, guidance and assessment for self-directed learning and information seeking skills, and (3) provide structure and guidance for the skills of critical judgment and medical problem solving. There are 3 consecutive longitudinal courses spanning from fall semester of first year through fall semester of second year.

Course Directors: Deepti Rao, MD (CR1); Kristin Raschke, MD (CR2); Carol Morales, MD (CR3)

Fall semester of the first year Doctoring course introduces students to what it means to be a clinical practitioner and to learning the basic techniques that clinicians use to forge the clinician-patient relationship, as well as communication and examination techniques to obtain essential information from the patient. They also learn how to develop a list of patient problems and present patient findings in oral and written form.

Course Director: Deborah Heath, MD

In Spring semester of the first year Doctoring course, students step into a variety of new roles, including those they assume when interacting with patients in a clinical environment. Students are also challenged to explore the perspectives of those impacted by healthcare and the healthcare system, including the patient, the community, and clinicians. Students build skills in communication and physical exam skills related to the conditions studied in the concurrent organ blocks. Each student also explores and develops his/her unique role and perspective as a professional-in-training. The course prepares students to assume their clinical role in the Practical Immersion Experience (PIE) as they continue to develop their professional identities.

Course Director: Alison Campbell, MD

The Continuity Clinic experiences during the first and second year provide integrated activities that focus on sequential skill-building opportunities that include the biological, population, and behavioral perspectives. Continuity experiences allow students to work with physicians who have long-term relationships with patients, families, multidisciplinary health care teams, and mentors.

Course Director: Erin Bouquin, MD

The Practical Immersion Experience is a 6-week, rural, community-based clinical preceptorship during which students live in the community to which they are assigned. Students are mentored by a practicing community physician. PIE offers the chance to learn in a clinical practice and apply the skills and knowledge acquired during year 1 basic science courses, Clinical Reasoning, and Doctoring 1. Students integrate basic science, communication skills, and clinical skills into the day-to-day practice of medicine, using patients as the springboard for their learning.  PIE also offers the opportunity to observe first-hand the impact of being a physician on one’s own life and lifestyle.

Block Chair: Erin Bouquin, MD

Electronic Medical Record Training, or PowerChart training, is held at several points throughout Phase I to provide students with access needed for preceptorship experiences and clinical rotations. This 3-part training series consists of online modules and in-person sessions providing 1) read-only access for Continuity Clinic, 2) entry-level access after PIE, and 3) full access during Transitions in preparation for the start of Phase II Clerkships. EMR training is required for all medical students, even if they have previously used PowerChart in another role.

Doctoring 2A builds on the communication and clinical skills from previous Doctoring courses. Students develop clinical evaluation skills for conditions related to concurrent organ blocks, GI/Nutrition/Metabolism and Neurosciences. They learn to use clinical reasoning to guide their patient evaluations and write-ups and develop communication skills for patient education and oral presentations.

Course Director: Maria Hoober, MD; Anish Deshmukh, MD; Maryam Hosseini, MD

Doctoring 2B occurs in the spring semester of the 2nd year. Students develop a foundation in clinical ethics and ethical reasoning. They review and consolidate their clinical skills in preparation for the clerkships.

Course Director: Simone Miller, MD; Naomi George, MD

The goal of the Transitions block is to prepare students in transitioning from the basic science years of the curriculum to the clinical clerkships. The objectives of the transitions block are accomplished by a combination of methods that reinforce the skills needed for future success in the clinical environment.

Block Chair: Donald (DJ) Luna, MD

WISE (Wellness, Integration, Step I preparation and Education on learning) weeks begin and end year 1 and end year 2 in Phase I. The goals of the WISE weeks are:

1. Provide students with opportunities to reflect on and promote personal resiliency, a culture of wellness and learning efficiency.
2. Integrate content across blocks to enhance content understanding and retention.
3. Enhance understanding of high-yield information and practice learning and test-taking strategies applicable for optimal Step I performance.
4. Create time for students to engage in their own educational learning plan.

Course Directors: Patrick Rendón, MD; Thomas Markle, PhD

Pharmacology is the basic biomedical science discipline focused on how drugs affect the body (pharmacodynamics) and how the body affects drugs (pharmacokinetics). Pharmacology relies on a basic knowledge of the anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and pathology of organ systems to understand the mechanistic basis for therapeutic effects as well as the side effects and toxicities associated with drug administration. Pharmacology is presented throughout the Phase I curriculum to maximize its integration with the other basic medical science disciplines. There are many more drugs and information about drugs to learn than is possible during Phase I. To optimize your study of pharmacology, content is focused on “prototype” drugs that represent a class of therapeutic agents and are the most relevant and important in preparing for the USMLE Step I.

Pathology is the study of disease; more specifically, the study of the structural, biochemical, and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs that underlie disease. Pathology focused topics in each block are incorporated into classroom hours and reading assignments. Reinforcement of pathology learning “threads” in organ system blocks uses cased based educational strategies.

Thread Leader: Kristel Montano, MD, MEd

Scholarship is an important component of the curriculum. The process of identifying a research topic, finding a mentor, and proposing a project begins in Phase I of the curriculum. Scholarly Projects help students develop practical skills in the scientific method and understand the role of research in informing clinical practice. Students develop and complete a scholarly project in an area of interest related to medical science and/or health care and publicly present or publish their results before they graduate.

Project Directors: Rebecca Hartley, PhD; Patrick Rendon, MD; David Mora, Administrator