Note: K, S, and A, with corresponding numbers in parentheses (e.g., K1, S2, A4), refer to Weill Cornell Medical College's Educational Objectives of the program leading to the MD degree found at http://weill.cornell.edu/education/curriculum/edu_obj.html.

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:


1. K11 Describe and analyze attributes of the physician-patient relationship.


2. S4 Describe the structure of the medical interview.


3. S12 Define communication techniques and styles.


4. K10 Identify how patient care changes in the different stages of the life cycle.


5. K11, K12 Identify the principles of patient-centered culturally effective care, including cultural self-awareness and humility.


6. K8 Discuss types of complementary medicine.


7. K11, S1 Identify clinical reasoning strategies.


8. K12 Describe the core principles of global health initiatives.


9. K3, S12 Identify techniques for providing patient education and counseling for behavior change.


10. K3 Describe the general principles of clinical nutrition in preventative medicine.


11. K3 Describe the components of a nutrition history.


12. K3 Analyze a nutrition history and describe the components of effective nutritional counseling.


13. K3, K5, K7 Describe how socio-medical issues, such as substance abuse and domestic violence, have an impact on health and health care.


14. K4, K13 Identify techniques used in the study of epidemiology focusing on the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations, and the factors that influence this distribution.


15. K13 Identify statistical tests used in calculating statistical significance.


16. K4, K13 Describe the different types of study design used in epidemiologic research.


17. K4, K5 Describe the methods used to assess risks of disease by calculating strength of association between risk factors and disease (causal association).


18. K13, S2, S3 Identify techniques for question framing, critical appraisal, and database searching, essential to the practice of evidence based medicine (EBM).


Skills:


19. S4 Elicit a complete medical history.


20. S4, S12 Demonstrate clear and organized communication and interpersonal skills in information gathering, including effective relationship building and structuring of the interview.


21. S5 Obtain accurate vital signs.


22. S2, S3, S10 Apply the principles of biostatistics, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine (EBM) to clinical scenarios.


Attitudes:


23. A2, A3 Recognize how age, social class, gender, race, ethnicity, and culture influence health care delivery, and how they may influence health care disparities.


24. A3, A4, A5, A6 Demonstrate a professional identity and demeanor, including punctuality; respect for patients, colleagues, and families; reliability; and accountability in the performance of duties.


25. A1, A2, A3, A4 Demonstrate a patient-centered approach to the care of the patient.


26. A7 Recognize and accept ambiguity and uncertainty in clinical situations and medical decision-making.

How Learning Objectives are Assessed
This course uses a variety of methods to assess students throughout the course that include both formative and summative evaluation. Methods for assessing student achievement of course learning objectives include the following: 1) an OSCE with a standardized patient; 2) performance in skills groups, which serve as a laboratory to learn and practice clinical skills and as a forum to reflect upon office preceptor experiences; 3) performance with office preceptor, including documentation of assignments in student's Clinical Record, as well as individual reflections (Clinical Observations) on the office preceptor experience; and 4) written in-class and take home examinations. Please refer to the course syllabus for more specific details on grading.