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- Jul 7, 2008
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I am a second year and just wanted to add my thoughts on these questions.
1. In regards to the curriculum, it is NOT a traditional systems based curriculum. I am sure you saw that at your interview. It is more of a mix of systems based and problem based learning models. The key is the schemes, that help to present the information based on a symptom, which is how you will have to think about it in practice. Joes5230 is right, there is a learning curve to the schemes and things don't always go well. It is also a new school and in a lot of ways they are still figuring things out. This is honesty a big frustration for be because I was sold on this curriculum and it isn't always panning out well. However, I still think I am learning what I need to. Dr. Mandin who was key to developing this curriculum in Calgary and implementing it at several schools says it generally takes a few years for schools to get the hang of it.
While the school doesn't like to call it lectures, everything is still a lectures. The professor talks and you take notes. The room does facilitate discussion a little, but in my first year the professors mostly just lectured. It is nice not to be 200 ft away from your professor and just one in a sea of 300 faces.
In regards to the basic science curriculum, it isn't as strong as it might be at some research based schools. And it is very different getting it over 2 years. However, I don't think it is as weak as some think it is. I think the disadvantage is that it is spread out, but you also learn it in the setting you will apply it . . . But that makes it hard to compare yourself to a first year at another school. They HAVE had more basic science, but yours is still coming. It also might feel like less because we get smaller portions at a time. I think a third year who has taken boards would be better at answering this (by the way the schools board pass rate is pretty comparable to other COMs on both COMLEX and USMLE, which doesn't happen often for its first class).
That being said, the school is still building its faculty and the faculty is small anyway. So there is a lot of overlap in what teachers present. And sometimes they get it wrong - but this is usually in pretty minor details. They are some new teachers, but several have taught at other med schools. We also have past leaders of COCA (the accrediting body), the AOA, and faculty that have been instrumental in starting other successful schools. We have some of the best physicians in Az (and the facilitators in my CHC have also won many awards).
In regards to the CHC's, Joes5230 talked about rotation issues. There were some issues. It is the first year and that is to be expected. I don't know about his CHC, but everyone at mine loves it hear (and I am in one that had multiple problems getting started). Most of the students I talk to really like second year. I know some CHCs are struggling, but from what I understand that is few and far between.
2) I don't know much about general surgery. There are at least 3 surgeons on staff (2 facilitators and 1 anatomy professor). Perhaps you can get ahold of one of them and see what they think. They know the school and they know what it takes to become a surgeon.
3) Mostly facilitators help work through cases in small group in the first year. In the second year they offer some help with the curriculum and also help work through cases. They are all physicians from various backgrounds. Some are better than others. The one at my CHC is phenomenal.
4) I never had a problem with office hours, or with someone getting back with me, but I am not a big question asker.
5) I am not the person hiring, but everyone is PhD, MDs or DOs. There are a few new teachers, but most have obviously been teaching for a long time and teach really well. It is important to remember that this isn't a research school, it is a teaching school. The professors only job is to teach. The proportion of good teachers is much higher here than at my undergrad (which was a large state school with lots of researchers). Students are first, not after research, image, sports, fancy buildings and whatever else some other school focus on.
New schools are not for everyone. Things are not as smooth and it can make everything seem frustrating and not well put together. But there are frustrating things about every med school. Nothing is handed to you on a silver platter in med school. Students at every school have to wade through a lot of not so perfect things. There isnt a school out there that teaches you everything you need to know for boards, you have to study on your own. There are some poor teachers, hard rotations, and difficult courses at every school. Expect it. If you want to go to get into a very competitive specialty residency, this school might not be the one for you. It isnt designed for that. It is designed to fill the medical needs of the nation. Its also designed to put out awesome clinicians with great clinical skills who tie their basic science knowledge to what they are seeing on the floor or in the clinic (instead of forgetting it after passing boards). So if you want to be a good clinician and fill a need, this is the school for you.
. anyone have any idea how full the class is?
