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Medical Curriculum

Medical Curriculum

The following refers to the four-year undergraduate medical curriculum leading to the M.D.,C.M. (Medicinae Doctorem et Chirurgiae Magistrum) degree.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Curriculum Review

Curriculum Review for Undergraduate Medicine

Serving society’s needs is of the utmost importance, and requires training graduates who are well equipped to assume leadership roles in their communities. This entails keeping a constant watchful eye towards advancing the M.D.,C.M. program curriculum, and continuous fine tuning to ensure it remains in step with the health sciences environment (of the 21st century in Quebec, nationally, and globally, including rapid advances in scientific knowledge). The Faculty realizes the need for constant review of the medical curriculum that is also necessitated by accreditation standards and current literature resources that pertain to educational best practices.

The Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum Committee advises on the strategic directions of ongoing undergraduate medical education curricular renewal, encompassing all years within Undergraduate Medical Education. It oversees all aspects of the medical undergraduate curriculum and ensures that it conforms to the mission statement of the Faculty of Medicine, overall M.D.,C.M. program objectives, and the standards of relevant national organizations. It reviews curricular learning outcomes; teaching; assessment and evaluation strategies; and curricular outcomes. The committee also manages risks and assures that adequate resources—including faculty, faculty development, and evaluation—are available to fulfill the tasks set out in annual activity plans. The committee also develops and monitors policies that support the curricular framework, the hours of the school year, curricular content and workload, curricular review, and new learning within the curriculum. The curriculum consists of four components:

  • Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD);
  • Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP);
  • Core and Senior Clerkship;
  • Physicianship.

Longitudinal themes are woven through the four-year program components. Curriculum details are also available at www.mcgill.ca/ugme/curriculum.

There is wide student representation within all educational committees; whether at the Curriculum Committee or component, course, and discipline subcommittee levels.

Note: Modifications to the curriculum may take place during the program.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Evaluation System

Evaluation System

The Evaluation System is multifaceted and under constant review by the Faculty. The Faculty reserves the right to change any of these rules and regulations at any time, although in general such changes will not come into effect in the middle of a Promotion Period. For complete Faculty regulations, reference should be made to the Faculty of Medicine's Undergraduate Medical Education Academic Policies.

The Faculty operates on a modified pass/fail system. This in effect means that students' standings, class rank, and grades in courses and rotations are not available to any external agency such as hospitals, universities or licensing bodies. For purposes of internal use students' numerical grades are used in the calculations required for student feedback, academic advising and promotion, awards, prizes, Dean's Honour List designation, academic bursaries and Faculty medals.

For the purposes of evaluation, the four-year curriculum is broken down into promotion periods. (Subject to change; see below.)

Promotion Periods

Promotion Periods

Promotion Period I includes Fundamentals of Medicine Year 1 courses and Physician Apprenticeship 1. The promotion periods for the remaining three years of the curriculum are under review. For more details, see www.mcgill.ca/ugme/about-us/governance/committee-student-promotion-and-curricular-outcomes.

For details regarding Promotion Periods II to V for Fall 2014 – Class of 2018 students (and earlier), please refer to the appropriate edition of the Health Sciences Calendar at www.mcgill.ca/students/courses/calendars.

Student Promotions

Student Promotions

The Committee on Student Promotion and Curriculum Outcomes (CSPCO) will review the academic record, professional conduct and general performance of any student on a regular basis and will determine whether the student may proceed to the next promotion period.

No evaluation, examination mark, etc. shall be considered final until passed by the CSPCO. Where a student has failed one or more units, or has been found to have been engaged in unprofessional conduct, the CSPCO will automatically review the student's entire academic record and general performance. The CSPCO may require the student:

  1. to undergo remedial rotation(s);
  2. to repeat an entire Promotion Period;
  3. to be suspended from the program for up to one year; or
  4. to be dismissed from the program.

A student who obtains a "failure" or two or more "borderline" grades with the new curriculum as of Class of 2017 or a "failure" or two or more "Below Expectations" for the Class of 2016 will be placed on probation.

Academic offences such as plagiarism and cheating on examinations, including examinations administered by the Faculty of Medicine on behalf of external agencies, and unprofessional conduct, are considered serious offences which could lead to dismissal from the program. A student who engages in criminal activity and/or who is found guilty of having violated the criminal code will have his/her dossier referred to the CSPCO; this may be considered evidence of unsuitability for the practice of medicine and grounds for dismissal from the program.

The Faculty reserves the right to dismiss from the program any student who is considered incompetent and/or unsuitable for the practice of medicine (see www.mcgill.ca/ugme/about-us/governance/committee-student-promotion-and-curricular-outcomes).

Note: For selected students, the program includes a one-year integrated clerkship in Gatineau/Hull or outside the city of Montreal. Promotion criteria is the same as Montreal.
Note: Success on a final exit exam (one of either the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) Qualifying Exam Part 1, the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) 2 CK, or an in-house examination) is required for graduation, beginning with the Class of 2018. (This information is subject to change)

Failure of Supplemental Examinations or Remedial Rotations

Failure of Supplemental Examinations or Remedial Rotations

A failure in a supplemental examination or remedial rotation in Promotion Periods I, II, III, IV, and V will result in the student being required to repeat the Promotion Period or to be dismissed from the program as determined by the CSPCO. A student may not repeat more than one Promotion Period in the curriculum. Failure in any course during a repeat Promotion Period will result in immediate dismissal from the program.

The results of all supplemental examinations and the evaluation result of remedial clinical rotations will be recorded in the official transcripts as supplemental examinations, and will be considered as such for purposes of promotion.

Notice of Failures

Notice of Failures

It is the student's responsibility to be available for notification of a failing grade. If a student is unable to be located after a reasonable effort by the Dean's office, the consequences will be borne fully by the student.

Note: There is a charge for each supplemental examination. Once approval of the supplemental examination is confirmed by the Undergraduate Dean's Office Student Records Officer, the student's account will be billed. This charge is for all supplemental examinations and related reread of exams throughout the program. An additional charge will also be billed to the student's account for a reread of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Exam; for fee amounts and other details, refer to the Student Accounts website.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Curriculum Components and Blocks

Curriculum Components and Blocks

Due to curriculum changes, curriculum components and blocks may be revised. Revisions will be posted on the Undergraduate Medical Education website.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD)

Fundamentals of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD)

Note: The curriculum is under constant revision.

BLOCK A

BLOCK B

BLOCK C

BLOCK D

BLOCK E

BLOCK F

BLOCK G

BLOCK H

BLOCK I

BLOCK J

Other Courses in FMD

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP)

Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP)

The Transition to Clinical Practice (TCP) component runs from January to June of second year of the M.D.,C.M. program. TCP consists of three eight-week blocks, followed by disciplines integrated assessments, and an introduction to clerkship course. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.

  • Core and Consultative Medicine – this block includes:
    • IMED 301 Internal Medicine - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • NEUR 301 Neurology - Transition to Clinical Practice
  • Comprehensive Health – this block includes:
    • FMED 301 Family Medicine - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • PAED 301 Pediatrics - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • INDS 302 Medical Ethics & Health Law - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • INDS 300 Mindful Medical Practice - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • INDS 224J1/INDS 224J2/INDS 224J3 Community Health Alliance Project - C.H.A.P.
  • Diagnostic and Interventional Medicine – this block includes:
    • SURG 301 Surgery - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • ANAE 301 Anesthesia - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • RADD 301 Radiology - Transition to Clinical Practice
    • OPTH 300 Ophthalmology - TCP

The following course is also included as part of TCP:

At the end of TCP there will be an integrated assessment course:

  • INDS 323 Integrated Assessment - Transition to Clinical Practice

The following Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal course will continue during TCP:

Information on each department/unit can be found at Departments and Units in the Faculty of Medicine.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Core and Senior Clerkship

Core and Senior Clerkship

Core Clerkship

Core Clerkship

The Core Clerkship runs from July to June of the third year of the M.D.,C.M. program. It consists of three sixteen-week blocks followed by disciplines integrated assessments. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.

  • Inpatient and Consultative Medicine & Surgery – this block includes:
  • Family Medicine and Mental Health – this block includes:
    • FMED 405 Family Medicine - Core Clerkship
    • PSYT 401 Psychiatry - Core Clerkship
  • Women and Child Health & Elective – this block includes:
    • ELEC 400 Elective 1 - Clerkships
    • PAED 401 Pediatrics - Core Clerkship
    • OBGY 401 Obstetrics and Gynecology - Core Clerkship

The following courses are also included as part of the Core Clerkship during these blocks:

At the end of the Core Clerkship there will be an integrated assessment course:

  • INDS 423 Integrated Assessment - Core Clerkship
Note: For selected students, the program is a one-year integrated clerkship in Gatineau/Hull or outside the city of Montreal, and also includes the Geriatric Medicine (IMED 406) course (see Senior Clerkship section below).

Senior Clerkship

Senior Clerkship

Note: The Senior Clerkship is currently being revised while content will be reintegrated appropriately within the new structure.

Senior Clerkship 2015–2016

Senior Clerkship 2016–2017

The Senior Clerkship runs from August to April of the fourth year of the M.D.,C.M. program. It consists of three eight-week blocks followed by disciplines integrated assessments. Students are divided into three cohorts; each cohort completes all three blocks but in different orders.

The following Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal course will continue during Senior Clerkship:

At the end of the Senior Clerkship there will be an integrated assessment course:

  • INDS 424 Integrated Assessment - Senior Clerkship
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Physicianship

Physicianship

Physicianship is a main component of the curriculum and offers formal courses (Physician Apprenticeship longitudinal program, Clinical Method I & II, Mindful Medical Practice, Medical Ethics & Health Law). The Physicianship subcommittee is also responsible for content that is woven into specific component courses' content such as palliative care, professional identity formation, social studies of medicine, ultrasound, etc.

Please refer to curriculum components to view the Physicianship information.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)

Electives

Electives in the Professional Medicine Program

Electives are offered during Core and Senior Clerkships by a number of departments/units in the Faculty of Medicine.

Details are published in the "Electives Program" section of the UGME website, while the list of departments offering electives is available at www.mcgill.ca/ugme-electives/elective-courses and www.mcgill.ca/ugme-electives/mcgill-students. Further information may be obtained from the Coordinator (Elective Program), Faculty of Medicine.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Medicine—2015-2016 (last updated Aug. 17, 2015) (disclaimer)
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