The educational objectives of the medical education program leading to the Doctor of Medicine are designed to provide knowledge and skills that are essential for functioning in a broad variety of clinical situations. To render a wide spectrum of primary care, a graduate of the M.D. Program must develop:

A mastery of the concepts necessary for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of common medical problems, specifically knowledge of the:

• normal development, structure and physiological function of the body, organ systems, tissues and cells, and their interrelationships
• molecular, biochemical, cellular, and physiological mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body’s homeostasis
• biochemical, immunologic, pharmacologic, and microbiologic principles related to issues of disease, laboratory tests, and therapeutics
• various etiologies (genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, iatrogenic, microbiologic, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative, and traumatic) of diseases (pathogenesis), the associated altered structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology) and characteristic pathologic and laboratory manifestations
• common epidemiologic and risk factors for diseases and the role and impact of psychological, behavioral, social, economic, and cultural factors on health and disease; and
• ethical, legal, and economic issues that impact health and medical care.

Basic skills, including the ability to:

• perform and record a complete an accurate history, sensitive to patient needs and the nature of the situation
• perform and record an accurate and complete physical examination, sensitive to patient needs and the nature of the situation
• develop an appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic plan, appropriately using information resources, laboratory and imaging testing
• communicate (in writing and orally) effectively and respectfully with peers, faculty, colleagues, and other members of the healthcare team, understanding the role of consultations and referrals
• communicate and interact with patients in an effective, respectful, and compassionate manner, including counseling them on risks, prevention, lifestyle and therapy issues
• obtain, analyze, and use the medical literature and other information resources to address medical questions and to sustain professional growth; and
• apply techniques of population health, including methods of analysis of the health and health problems of defined populations and development of interventions to improve the health of populations.