YOUR M.D. Student Information

The OHSU M.D. degree program is competency-based and learner-centered. The curriculum integrates foundational scientific knowledge and clinical sciences across all years. Innovative hands-on, team-based learning methods foster in-depth understanding and application of knowledge, while also helping students develop self-assessment, critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.

studentsOur curriculum focuses on early and longitudinal clinical experiences with physicians, during which time students learn fundamental clinical knowledge and skills in patient interviewing, physical diagnosis and communication skills. We call these the "Foundational" curriculum blocks.

Following the Foundational blocks, students participate in core clinical experiences in OHSU Hospitals and Clinics, as well as at partner hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington, including rural and underserved settings. A rural learning experience is required in the core clinical science curriculum.

Electives and selectives in the last 18 months of medical school allow students to customize their curriculum based on their individual interests, exploring a variety of career paths before applying for residency training.

All students complete a mentored scholarly project (the "deep dive") focused on the student's interest in a particular question. YOUR M.D. culminates with a capstone experience in which students share their knowledge gained from their scholarly project prior to entering post-graduate residency training.

YOUR M.D. block by block

Identify learning styles and readiness

First, you identify your own learning styles and readiness

Incoming students determine their learning styles and assess their level of preparation for the medical school curriculum. Resources to enhance a student's knowledge base will be provided, if needed. This initial process is the first of recurring cycles of self-assessment throughout medical school.

Foundational curriculum

Next, you embark on the Foundational curriculum

The Fundamentals Block: Essentials of biochemistry, cell biology, anatomic principles, nutrition, pharmacology, epidemiology and patient communication are examples of the topics covered. Students work with and learn from practicing physicians in their preceptorships, which start at the beginning of medical school, and continue for the first 18 months of the curriculum.

The Organ System Blocks: Students learn foundational and clinical science and essential health care skills (such as teamwork, informatics and quality science) in six organ system blocks, structured around clinical cases. Some topics span all blocks as a thread (such as ethics, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice). The six blocks are:

  • Blood and Host Defense
  • Skin, Bones and Musculature
  • Cardiopulmonary and Renal
  • Hormones and Digestion
  • Nervous System and Function
  • Developing Human

Read the full block descriptions

Clinical experiences

After this, you'll become immersed in clinical experiences combined with continued skills and knowledge acquisition

Students have core clinical experiences within the clinical learning environments of OHSU Hospitals and Clinics, as well as at our affiliated partner hospitals and clinics in local and regional communities. A rural learning experience is required in the core clinical science curriculum.

Intersessions – the time between clinical experiences – integrate foundational science into the clinical experiences and build on the clinical framework students have learned. Intersessions also address topics such as health disparities, communication, patient safety and medical professionalism. 

Learn about Transition to Clinical Experiences

Customization is the culmination

Electives and selectives in the last 18 months of medical school allow students to customize their curriculum based on their individual interests, exploring a variety of career paths before applying for residency training.

During this phase, students determine how to best prepare for their next step of professional training and pursue experiences that nurture their individual passions and career goals.

All students complete a mentored scholarly project that centers around the student's interest in a particular question – be it a basic, clinical or translational research question; patient safety or quality improvement question; or global health question – and the ability to plan and utilize resources to answer this. During a capstone experience, students share their knowledge gained from their scholarly project prior to entering post-graduate residency training.

OHSU Colleges system

Guidance and advice is provided throughout via the OHSU Colleges System

The OHSU Colleges System is an innovative program that provides customized student affairs curricula. Students select one of seven Colleges based on their anticipated practice setting and/or interests:

  • Acute Care Medicine
  • Global Health and the Urban Underserved
  • Hospital-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics
  • Metropolitan Primary Care
  • Rural Medicine
  • Surgical Specialties
  • Urban Medical Specialties

Each College presents customized learning experiences over the academic year in seven areas:

  • Academic Opportunities
  • Career Advising
  • Financial Planning
  • Interprofessional Education
  • Leadership
  • Service Learning
  • Wellness

While the overall objectives for each College are consistent, individual activities align with each College's particular subject. For example, last year the Acute Care College planned a service event which taught suturing and radiograph (X-ray) interpretation to low-income, middle-school students, hoping to inspire careers in medicine. Their Wellness session addressed approaches to shift work. The Rural College held a financial planning panel on federal loan repayment options.

Learn more about the Colleges