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Introduction to Being a Physician

August 5, 2024-August 09, 2024

Content Lead
Jason Chang, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
changjs2@upmc.edu

Content Lead
Amanda Brown, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
amanda.brown@chp.edu

Course Description

This course acquaints incoming medical students to what it means to be a physician, with an emphasis on the patient experience with chronic disease and their experience with the health care system.  Students will have the opportunity to observe how physicians from a variety of disciplines apply their communication and clinical skills to patient care.  There will be the opportunity to observe physicians interacting with patients as well as to talk directly with patients and their family members about their experiences with physicians and the medical care system as a whole.

Course Objectives

  1. Understand and gain experience with the importance of effective communication between patients and physicians.
  2. Identify the importance of how patient and physician factors can affect the care and management of chronic diseases.
  3. Develop an understanding of the psychological issues involved in being diagnosed with a chronic disease.
  4. Focus on the belief that patients must be understood in the context of their lives rather than their diseases.
  5. Appreciate that the practice of medicine is a lifelong learning process with continuing refinement of skill in patient communication.
  6. Understand the importance of developing one’s professional identity in medicine

Educational Methods​

  • Community encounter
  • Patient interview
  • Panel discussion
  • Patient presentations
  • Small group session
  • Case-based, small-group workshops
  • Book/essay discussions

Evaluation

Evaluation for this course is based on in-person attendance and participation in small group sessions.

Grading: Students are required to pass this course to pass the Patient, Physician, and Society Block, Section 1. Grading for the course is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.

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.