Question about DPC vs. LDB stuff at NYCOM.

[blahwhatever]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Do other medical schools give you these options, or is it just a NYCOM thing to cut down on the number of people in lectures?

What are the pros/cons of both? When I interviewed I think I remember one of the students saying that if you're DPC you still get to go to all the lectures, but you're not required. However, if you're LDB, you HAVE to go to all lectures. If this true, why would anyone be DPC to begin with? So I'm confused about the advantage of LDB.

Anyway, any clarification appreciated.

 

[Vee]

Do other medical schools give you these options, or is it just a NYCOM thing to cut down on the number of people in lectures?

What are the pros/cons of both? When I interviewed I think I remember one of the students saying that if you're DPC you still get to go to all the lectures, but you're not required. However, if you're LDB, you HAVE to go to all lectures. If this true, why would anyone be DPC to begin with? So I'm confused about the advantage of LDB.

Anyway, any clarification appreciated.

I'm not in DPC. They all have to come to the anatomy and OMM lectures but that is it. They don't really ever come to other lectures; they are way too busy with their own work.

It's not to cut down on the number of people in lecture. The lecture hall can hold the whole class plus some. It's just to give people another way to learn the material. People do DPC because they like the independent learning aspect to it. From what I understand they work on a case at a time and all do research about the learning objectives. They get together in their groups and discuss what they've all found out and that is how they learn.

As far as other med schools, I know some do. One is completely PBL (DPC) but I can't recall which one that is.

Hopefully someone who's in DPC will chime in here. Good luck!

 

[Lokhtar]

LECOM-B is completely PBL in the osteo world. I believe Hawaii is also all-PBL in the allopathic world.

 

[spicedmanna]

Moving to osteo at user request...

 

[KateGia]

Do other medical schools give you these options, or is it just a NYCOM thing to cut down on the number of people in lectures?

What are the pros/cons of both? When I interviewed I think I remember one of the students saying that if you're DPC you still get to go to all the lectures, but you're not required. However, if you're LDB, you HAVE to go to all lectures. If this true, why would anyone be DPC to begin with? So I'm confused about the advantage of LDB.

Anyway, any clarification appreciated.

Vee said most of it. Theoretically, the DPC students could go to lectures if they would like. Most of them are in DPC because they don't want to go to lectures (from what I gather). If for some reason they would want to see a lecture, they can also stream it. Many schools have a problem based option. It is, like vee said, for more independent learners. Personally, I like lectures, because I like the structure of it, and I know what I'm going to be doing every day, plus I'm an audio learner, so I like to hear the lecturer teach. It really depends on how you learn. If you want to know a little more about the DPC program, check out the NYCOM 2010 thread.... there are some DPC'ers that lurk around in there from time to time.

 

[Biodork111]

I guess I shall be the first...I'm NYCOM DPC Class of 2009...

The way DPC works is this (granted with Dr. E taking over a few minor details have changed...but all should still be relatively accurate):

You will attend "group" three times per week. Your group will be composed of about 7 students and 2 facilitators, usually one clinician and one PhD faculty member. When you open a case you will receive a chief complaint, as a group you will begin to hammer out a differential (all of the things you think it could be...regardless of how outlandish). You can then "further the case," which means you can get physical findings, order labs, etc. At the end of group you will create learning issues. For example, if you have a case where a person comes in complaining of shortness of breath your learning issues might be gross anatomy of the lung, physiology of respiration, pulmonary circulation, etc. You will then leave group, and go research your learning issues. At the next group meeting you will return ready to discuss your learning issues with your group and you will further the case again. There is very little input from facilitators, its extremely student driven. At times you will feel like you are being left behind because there isn't a lot of hand holding and/or direction. The best way to break it down is first year, focus on anatomy, histology and normal physiology with some pharm, and second year the focus is mainly on pathology. Believe me, you don't miss out on anything that the lecture kids learn, even if at times it feels that way. You must attend all anatomy and OMM labs, and sit for the practical exams as well. These usually do not coincide with your DPC exams (it happens sometimes...ie. the end of the semesters). The other aspect of your education is clinical. The first half of your first year you will attend clinical skills lab where you learn how to take histories, do physical exams, etc. The lecture kids do this as well, but their course is spread out over the 2 years...yours will be packed into 1 semester to prepare you for your clinical practicum which begins in the spring of your first year. You will be placed in a clinicians office for a few hours per week. This will continue into your second year (new placement). Its a really great experience. You will not have this in the spring of your second year (thus allowing you extra time to study for boards).

Any other questions...feel free to message.

 

[blahwhatever]

Thank you for those answers!

Do you cover the same material at the same time in both DPC and LDB tracks? Like if I'm having difficulty with teaching myself something, would it usually be too confusing to try to look for that particular lecture?

The thing with me is, I'm actually really used to a lecture based learning style, so I'm not sure if I really actually will be lost trying to learn things myself. However, I also will be spending time driving to lecture everyday. I would rather put that time towards studying at home. Basically I'm very unsure which way to go, both seems to have pros and cons.

Also, are exams in DPC style harder, because you don't have someone emphasizing on possible test material?

 

[Biodork111]

First let me apologize for how long I kept you waiting for a response...I'm not on here all the time.

99.9% of the time the material being covered in PBL does NOT coincide with what the lectures are on at the same time. What we always found helpful was if we were covering a case that dealt with something that had already been covered in lecture, we could stream their lectures...I don't think this is an option anymore with movement away from streaming. With that said, not being able to sit in a lecture hall all day is not a good enough reason to opt for PBL. You really have to ask yourself if you can keep focus and manage your time efficiently...just because you aren't in lecture all day doesn't mean you aren't at home/library/study rooms with your face in a book for the same duration, if not longer than you would be spending in the lecture hall.

Our PBL exams were mainly essay, with more of an emphasis on multiple choice/board style questions as we got closer to the end of second year. Now that the program has a new leader, the tests may be morphing a little bit...a current first or second year can probably answer that better, but when Dr. P was in charge, our exams were almost exclusively essay.

 

[Eudjinn]

can a current M1 clarify what the schedule is like for lecture based students i.e. how many hours in actual lecture/lab M-F. It's 8 a.m. start till...?

 

[KateGia]

First let me apologize for how long I kept you waiting for a response...I'm not on here all the time.

99.9% of the time the material being covered in PBL does NOT coincide with what the lectures are on at the same time. What we always found helpful was if we were covering a case that dealt with something that had already been covered in lecture, we could stream their lectures...I don't think this is an option anymore with movement away from streaming. With that said, not being able to sit in a lecture hall all day is not a good enough reason to opt for PBL. You really have to ask yourself if you can keep focus and manage your time efficiently...just because you aren't in lecture all day doesn't mean you aren't at home/library/study rooms with your face in a book for the same duration, if not longer than you would be spending in the lecture hall.

Our PBL exams were mainly essay, with more of an emphasis on multiple choice/board style questions as we got closer to the end of second year. Now that the program has a new leader, the tests may be morphing a little bit...a current first or second year can probably answer that better, but when Dr. P was in charge, our exams were almost exclusively essay.

They actually didn't end up moving away from streaming at all. So this is still an option.

 

[PlasticMan]

Has DPC ever kicked anyone out?