Longitudinal Curriculum
The Cells to Society curriculum has unique longitudinal components which incorporate learning activities throughout the three phases.
Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM)
Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM) is a longitudinal four-year curriculum led by physician coaches and focused on development of clinical skills and formation of professional identity. The course is split into three phases, encompassing the science and art of the practice of medicine in all of its subtleties.
FCM-1 aims to develop history taking, relationship building, physical examination, differential diagnosis, and clinical reasoning skills through case-based exercises that are integrated into the morning system curriculum. FCM-1 consists primarily of small group sessions led by physician coaches engaging patients, standardized patients, and simulation to introduce and foster clinical skills.
FCM-2 and 3 consist of regular meetings with coaches for 1:1 coaching of clinical skills and professional development as well as group meetings in their FCM groups to discuss developmentally critical experiences throughout Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Entrustable Professional Activities Program
The UVA Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) Program is a longitudinal and integrated system of learning and assessment in which students are directly observed by residents, fellows, faculty and Designated Assessors in authentic patient encounters within the workplace.
EPA Assessors measure students’ performance of the Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency. These assessments are designed to provide information for students’ ongoing learning and development.
- Students receive immediate feedback from EPA assessments and are able to partner with faculty coaches to analyze and interpret this data and use it to co-create individualized learning plans. As a part of our cohesive student support system, coaches work closely with college deans to identify resources to aid students in addressing learning needs related to their clinical performance.
- Designated Assessors complete assessments across clinical settings. Designated Assessors are faculty who are selected and trained to be expert assessors. These assessors provide immediate feedback to students during real-time assessments of authentic clinical tasks (EPAs). They are also empowered to communicate with students’ faculty coaches and their college deans so that students receive the support they need as they develop clinical competence.
- Data from EPA assessments is aggregated and analyzed for summative decision making by the Entrustment Committee at key transition points in the curriculum. This Committee reviews student performance in order to grant graduated autonomy as students’ skills develop.
EPA assessments supplement information about students performance from other clinical assessment tools used in the curriculum.
Patient Student Partnership (PSP)
Our Patient Student Partnership (PSP) program is a longitudinal patient experience for UVA medical students. All students are assigned a chronically ill patient at the beginning of their first year that they follow throughout all four years of medical school. The program provides students:
- An authentic role as a member of a patient’s healthcare team
- The opportunity to contribute to a patient’s care from early in medical school
- Knowledge and skill development
The Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM) coaches provide mentorship of these first doctor-patient relationships and their role on a healthcare team as students develop their professional identity as a physician.