Course Lead
Graciela Bauza, MD, FACS
Department of Surgery
bauzagm@upmc.edu
Course Lead
John Szymusiak, MD, MS
Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics
szymusiakja@upmc.edu
Course Description
Discovery Weeks are required intersession weeks that are designed to support students during the Clerkships and Bridges phases—periods marked by rapid professional transition, increased clinical responsibility, and dispersion across multiple sites. These 5 weeks, interspersed across the final 2.5 years of the clinical curriculum, will allow for completion of required educational experiences, supporting professional identity formation, and promoting a positive learning environment.
In‑person intersessions reconvene the entire class cohort to address content not easily delivered within rotations, facilitate advising and near‑peer mentorship between class cohorts, and integrate wellness and reflective practices that sustain student development, continuity, and well‑being across the clinical years. Each week will have an overriding theme based on the developmental milestones occurring for that cohort at their current point in training.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Practice reflection for both patient care and personal wellness (PC)
- Demonstrate basic understanding of high yield special topics not covered elsewhere in the curriculum (MK)
- Develop common skills of teaching and learning, including fostering a safe learning environment, providing effective feedback, and teaching in different settings (PBL)
- Apply existing nutritional guidelines to assess patient needs and provide holistic patient care (PC)
- Demonstrate the value of peer and interdisciplinary collaboration in medicine (ICS)
- Develop skills to optimize role as physician leaders (ICS)
- Continue the journey of professional identity formation and support this process through individualized choice in curricular content and coaching (Prof)
- Identify common challenges to wellness in medical education (stress, burnout, sleep deprivation, imposter syndrome) and practical ways to address these challenges (Prof)
- Apply elements of human flourishing to promote the practice of professional identity formation and wellness (Prof)
- Identify how health system structures and policies shape patient outcomes and physician practice (SBP)
- Integrate social and structural factures into clinical decision-making (SBP)
- Apply skills in cultural competency using a culturally sensitive approach through interactions with community organizations (SBP)
- Identify and avoid common sources of medical errors (SBP)
Format
All students from a given class will meet synchronously during each of the 5 Discovery Weeks. Students will learn through a mix of large group didactic, small group break out sessions, and near peer mentorship discussions with a mix of students from both cohorts.
Assessment
Grading will be Pass/Fail, based on attendance and participation.
Requests for excused absences should be submitted via Elentra. Unexcused absences may result in grading penalties as outlined in the Policy on Absence and Attendance.