Phase II Courses 

With faculty and resident supervision, phase II medical students will learn how to collect a hypothesis driven history and physical, develop and defend a differential diagnosis, form a cohesive assessment statement, and develop early management plans for common diagnoses among hospitalized internal medicine patients. Students should be able to interpret common lab and imaging abnormalities, explain a basic approach to work-up and management of common medical conditions, communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, and educate patients and their families about their medical diagnoses and treatment plans.

After completion of the pediatric clerkship, learners will have the basic skills, attitudes and knowledge to safely and compassionately care for children. The primary goal of the Pediatric clerkship is to prepare all students master the ability to collect a hypothesis driven History and Physical for pediatric patients, develop and defend a differential diagnosis list, form a cohesive assessment statement, and start to develop management plans for common medical problems. Students should be able to interpret common lab and imaging abnormalities, explain a basic approach to work-up and management of common medical conditions, and communicate in an efficient and respectful manner with providers, staff, patients, and families.

With faculty and resident supervision, third year medical students will learn how to diagnose and manage patients with severe mental illness in the clinical setting. They will practice and expand their interviewing and rapport building skills, practice mental status exam techniques and other assessments, consent patients for treatments, communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, and educate patients and their families about mental illness and its treatments.

Surgery faculty and residents supervise and support Phase II medical students as they learn how to evaluate and manage patients with surgical problems.  This includes patients with elective and emergent surgical illnesses in inpatient and outpatient settings.  Students have the opportunity to see patients in out-patient clinics, evaluate patients in the emergency room, monitor patients while in the hospital, and participate in patient care during surgery.  The emphasis is on the concepts related to the care of surgical problems, which can be applied to all specialties in medicine.

The Family Medicine Clerkship is 6 weeks in length in which students have the opportunity to participate in primary care, chronic disease management, preventative care in clinics around NM. Students participate in core lectures and procedural workshops, and learn the core principles of FM at the bedside.

During the neurology clerkship, students will acquire the skills to obtain a complete and reliable history through patient interviews, chart reviews, and collateral sources. They will learn to perform a thorough yet efficient neurological examination tailored to the chief complaint and use these findings for accurate neuroanatomical localization. Students will formulate both top and broad differential diagnoses and gain knowledge of the diagnostic criteria, natural history, demographics, treatment, and prognosis of common neurological conditions. In addition, they learn how to apply principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care. They learn the appropriate use and limitations of neuro-diagnostic tests and the basics of neuroimaging interpretation. The clerkship will emphasize effective communication with diverse patients and families, focusing on rapport-building, information gathering, and patient education. Students will practice concise oral case presentations and write informative H&Ps, and progress notes. Additional objectives include identifying the impact of social and structural determinants of health on access, quality, and outcomes of care, performing a simulated lumbar puncture, and preparing for the Neurology SHELF board exam.

The third-year Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) clerkship provides medical students with a comprehensive, hands-on experience in women’s reproductive health, aligned with the educational objectives set by the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards. During this clerkship, students actively participate in labor and delivery, ambulatory care, gynecologic surgery, and inpatient services, integrating clinical reasoning, patient communication, and procedural skills. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based medicine, professionalism, interprofessional collaboration, and health equity. Students are assessed through direct observation, written examinations, and clinical performance evaluations, ensuring competence in key AAMC EPAs such as gathering patient histories, performing physical exams, and formulating differential diagnoses and management plans. The experience meets LCME requirements by providing adequate clinical exposure, appropriate supervision, timely feedback, and opportunities for reflective learning, preparing students for residency and future clinical responsibilities.