Clinical Opportunities
Graduate Phase Clinical Clerkship: As M.D., Ph.D. students enter their (anticipated) last year of graduate work, they participate in two courses designed by the M.D., Ph.D. program to ease re-entry into the medical curriculum. Students are encouraged to take an elective Graduate Phase Clinical Clerkship for MD/PhD students who are within 1.5 years of completing their PhD training. Students taking the graduate phase clinical clerkship attend clinic one afternoon per week during which they practice taking histories from patients, and perform physicals on patients under supervision of a physician. Students completing this course are receive one month of credit from the medical school curriculum. All M.D., PhD. students returning to the medical school curriculum are required to take the 5 session Clinical Skills Refresher Course. This is a 5 week course that meets one afternoon per week. Each week students receive training in a different subject. The subjects include: basic clinical care skills, cardiology skills, pulmonary skills, neurology skills, pediatric skills and OB/Gyn skills.
The guidelines for the Graduate Phase Clinical Clerkship are posted below.
BUSM IV (Med Year 4). Students follow a clinical curriculum similar to that of M.D. students, but have enhanced opportunities to finish research projects and are encouraged to take the 4th year Clinical Investigation Clerkship (newly established). I) The Sub-Internship; II). ERAS and The Match; III) Fourth year electives; IV) Clinical Investigation Clerkship Elective (approval process now in progress, see below for descriptions). V). Research electives (see above under BUSM III options for Research Elective Time Credit for MD/PhD students returning to MED clerkships), VI). USMLE Step II.
a. Clinical Investigation 4th Year Clerkship is for MD or MD/PhD Students. This is a 4-week elective offered during BUSM IV. The clerkship provides formal training in clinical research. The clerkship provides students with a clear understanding of the clinical research process, from study design to implementation and data analysis. The Clinical Investigation Clerkship will be graded and count towards the completion of clinical clerkships required for graduation. The Clinical Investigation Clerkship consists of three components:
- Students work for 4-weeks directly with a clinical research investigator or team of investigators on a clinical research project run through the GCRC.
- Self-learning module under guidance of course director. NIH web-based course in clinical research resulting in certification. Complete 4 Clinical Research newsletter and self-learning modules. Case-based learning section on trial design.
- Review two IRB applications in conjunction with IRB committee member, and attend 2 IRB meetings.
