A Typical Week of UBC Medical School
Genetic Analysis

The new curriculum uses patient-based approach allowing students to interact with patients as early as the second week of classes. Firstly, a family practice continuum during the first two years allows students to spend an afternoon each week in a physician’s office where students interact with and examine patients. Secondly, a clinical skills course teaches students the fundamentals of patient interaction (communication skills) and physical examination.

In the last two years of the program students apply what they’ve learned in a one-year clinical clerkship (third year) in teaching hospitals followed by electives and selectives (fourth year) to complete their medical studies.

The following are courses taught throughout first, and second year.

Family Practice (FMPR):
Thought by some to be the most exciting afternoon of the week, the family practice continuum allows both yourself and a medical student classmate to work with a physician (usually a general practitioner) weekly. You practice interviewing techniques learned in Clinical Skills and, depending on the doctor, learn additional skills such as conducting physical examinations, delivering injections or even more. You are also assigned at least one long-term patient with whom you will keep in contact over two years to gain facility in observing and recording the natural progression of a medical history.

Clinical Skills (CS):
One afternoon weekly, two tutors, one Psychiatrist and a General Practitioner or General Dentist, facilitate a combined group of eight medical and dental students. In the fall, using video recorders, you learn the techniques of interviewing and of strengthening the Doctor/Patient relationship. You begin by interviewing each other, and subsequently volunteer patients are interviewed for the remainder of the semester.

In January, Clinical Skills moves to the Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) where physical examination techniques are taught in small groups using volunteer patients and occaisonally each other.

Doctor, Patient, and Society (DPAS):
This tutorial takes place weekly on Wednesday afternoon. It addresses many socio-cultural issues that are faced by physicians and dentists. Topics such as anthropology, bioethics, and epidemiology are discussed using both lecture and tutorial sessions. The small group consists of eight medical and dental students facilitated by a tutor. Student presentations and group discussion play a key role in the DPAS curriculum.

Histology/Anatomy, and workshops:
Histology is the study of microscopic anatomy. You analyze cells and tissues using the light microscope in addition to pictures taken from scanning, and transmission electron microscopes. This is a weekly laboratory.

The Anatomy laboratory takes place on Friday afternoon. Following a short lecture about the body area of interest, the entire class proceeds to the Gross Anatomy Lab to examine previously dissected prosections, and dissect their assigned cadaver, which they use throughout the year.

Workshops are occasionally held when suitable. Worksheets are distributed at the beginning of the week, and students are expected to prepare answers to the best of their abilities before the workshop. These tutorials are held in small groups led by an expert tutor, and are designed to answer difficult questions, and address difficult concepts.

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