Competencies 

The competencies of the M.D. program undergo periodical and systematic revision (every 5 years) in order to ensure that they reflect the school’s mission and commitment to keeping up-to-date with national safety, health and educational trends. The school’s competencies  were last revised on March, 2015

The student, prior to graduation, must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the faculty the following medical competencies:

Patient Care:

The Patient Care competency domain encompasses the clinical skills of medical interviewing, physical examination, data gathering, oral presentation, written documentation and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures essential for medical students to provide care to their patients.

Medical Knowledge:

The Medical Knowledge competency domain addresses the ability to establish and maintain the knowledge necessary for patient care, along with skills in problem solving/critical thinking, clinical diagnosis, test ordering, and application of therapeutic strategies for management of medical problems.

Practice-Based Learning & Improvement (PBLI)

The PBLI competency domain encompasses information management, evidence-based medicine, and reflection, self-directed and life-long learning skills.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

The Interpersonal and Communication Skills competency refers to the collaborative and constructive relationship with patients and their families, as well as with other physicians and all members of the inter-professional team, that results in an effective and respectful communication.

Professionalism

The Professionalism competency domain includes professional relationships with patient, peers and other health care providers, effective work habits, ethical principles, and institutional, regulatory and professional society external standards.

Systems-Based Practice (SBP)

The SBP competency domain encompasses understanding of the structure of healthcare delivery systems including inter-professional teamwork as well as systems improvement in order to optimize the quality and safety of patient care.

Within each competency domain, students must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty the program’s educational objectives:

OBJECTIVES OF THE M.D. PROGRAM

The educational objectives of the M.D. program undergo periodical and systematic revision (every 5 years) in order to ensure that they reflect the school’s mission and commitment to keeping up-to-date with national safety, health and educational trends. The school’s objectives were last revised on March, 2015.

The student, prior to graduation, must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the faculty the following:

Knowledge of:

  1. the normal and altered structure and function of the body and of each of its major organ systems
  2. the molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms that maintain homeostasis
  3. the various etiologies and manifestations of diseases
  4. the fundamentals of clinical research in establishing the etiologies of disease and efficacy of traditional and non-traditional therapy
  5. how to critically appraise the scientific and clinical evidence that underlie the the treatment and care of individuals and populations
  6. the available tools to engage in lifelong learning
  7. the theories and principles that encompass ethical decision making and of the ethical dilemmas in medicine
  8. the various principles that govern prevention and health  promotion
  9. how physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, economic, occupational and environmental processes contribute to disease etiology, health inequities and health care access.
  10. population health, and global health with emphasis on disease prevention, health promotion and disaster management.
  11. how to work effectively as a member of a health care team.
  12. epidemiology of common maladies and strategies of reducing the incidence and prevalence of those maladies.
  13. the structure and function of a variety of health care delivery systems.
  14. the social, economic, ethical, medical and legal impacts of medical errors in today’s practice
  15. quality improvement processes that address and reduce system errors to ensure patient safety
  16. the various approaches to the organization, financing, and delivery of health care
  17. the most frequent clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and pathologic manifestations of common maladies.
  18. physical, psychological, ethical, social, and spiritual aspects of suffering including pain relief and palliative care.

Attitudes and Behaviors

  1. Compassion and empathy in caring for patients.
  2. Integrity and honesty at all times.
  3. Respect for the patients autonomy, privacy and dignity at all times.
  4. A commitment to promote and advocate healthy lifestyles for patients, family and community.
  5. A commitment to provide care to patients who are not able to pay.
  6. A commitment to advocate the interest of patients over his/her own interests.
  7. An awareness of limitations in knowledge and skills and a commitment to continuously improve them.
  8. A commitment to conduct patient-centered care.
  9. A commitment to work collaboratively with all healthcare professionals, ancillary personnel, and basic and clinical scientists.
  10. An awareness of the economic, psychological, occupational, social and cultural factors that contributes to the impairment of health.
  11. An awareness of the human, physical and economical resources available for patient care.
  12. A commitment to provide the best care possible for all patients regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, age, economical status, religious or political preferences.
  13. A commitment for prevention and promotion of health.

Skills

  1. The ability to obtain a culturally sensitive and accurate medical history including issues related to age, gender, gender identity, sexuality and socio-economic status.
  2. The ability to perform a complete and problem-specific physical examination including the mental status exam.
  3. The ability to perform routine technical procedures.
  4. The ability to use clinical reasoning to solve problems and to construct appropriate management strategies, including interpretation of commonly used diagnostic procedures.
  5. The ability to identify risk factors for disease or injury and to define the appropriate treatment strategies.
  6. The ability to recognize and provide initial management to patients with immediate life threatening conditions.
  7. The ability to communicate and educate effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients, families, colleagues, and others.
  8. The ability to provide education on health promotion and healthy lifestyles.
  9. The ability to exhibit tolerance towards the values and beliefs of patients, and respect to patient autonomy.
  10. The ability for self-education.
  11. The ability to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team.
  12. The ability to retrieve, manage and utilize Evidence-Based –Medicine for decision making regarding patient care.
  13. The ability to recognize and manage the threats posed by conflicts of interests involved in various arrangements for the practice of medicine.