Stanford's New Curriculum

[mmcnam]

---

Members do not see this ad.

For those of you who are applying to Stanford, I was wondering about your thoughts on their new curriculum.

http://med.stanford.edu/md/curriculum/

They have a secondary essay where they ask you to describe how you'll take advantage of it to suit your academic interests. I'm a little confused by it though - it says that "majors" can be chosen in addition to the core science/clinical stuff. This is really cool because student interest thrives - I bet I'm a lot less likely to be beaten down by med school if I always have something unique to pursue. But does anyone understand how this works? I'm interested in patient advocacy, international health and pediatrics... is this my "Stanford major"? Do I just find random faculty and ask them to teach me about this stuff or does Stanford arrange instruction on everyone's major? They only have 86 new students each year, so it might not be so hard... I'm confused though.

 

[riceman04]

For those of you who are applying to Stanford, I was wondering about your thoughts on their new curriculum.

http://med.stanford.edu/md/curriculum/

They have a secondary essay where they ask you to describe how you'll take advantage of it to suit your academic interests. I'm a little confused by it though - it says that "majors" can be chosen in addition to the core science/clinical stuff. This is really cool because student interest thrives - I bet I'm a lot less likely to be beaten down by med school if I always have something unique to pursue. But does anyone understand how this works? I'm interested in patient advocacy, international health and pediatrics... is this my "Stanford major"? Do I just find random faculty and ask them to teach me about this stuff or does Stanford arrange instruction on everyone's major? They only have 86 new students each year, so it might not be so hard... I'm confused though.

It's like a scholarly project that you work on (Vandy and a few other schools offer something quite similar)...you are basically explaining how being able to focus on whatever other specific interest you have will benefit you and allow you to taylor your experiences to one of your goals...I don't think it is that confusing.

Good luck

45. Stanford_____________
First Year Student Budget: 3 quarter on campus: $62,319, 4 quarter on campus: $83,092; 3 quarter off-campus: $65,184, 4 quarter off-campus: $86,912 Score: -1
Financial Aid/etc…:Yeah…this school has a very large endowment…extremely large…school has one of the most generous grant to loan ratios among “similar” medical colleges…students typically have to borrow less b/c they receive so much grant money. Stanford, admittedly says, they do not share in the profit from loans…explains why they do not maintain a university funded loan list. Most of the loan offers are made through govt loans and private loan organizations (i.e. Nellie Mae, Sallie Mae, etc…)…Scholarships: school offers a number of scholarships and grants…and can do this b/c of their HUUUUUUUGE endowment. % of Enrolled Students Receiving Financial Aid: 82%, Average Amount per Scholarship: $19,892, Average 2006 Graduate Indebtedness: $70,235 (wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Score: 6++++++++++++++++++++++++
Curriculum: Important to recognize that this school (like many other Cali schools) is on a quarterly system…so things move quite fast….I just hope they do not have finals AFTER winter vacation like the undergrads have…that would SUCK……This is definitely a new age curriculum that emphasizes individualized learning experiences through 5 key pillars: Integration, Individual Opportunities, Scholarly Concentrations, Strengthening of doctor-patient communication and clinical skills instruction, and Advising and Mentoring. Specifics of general curricular characteristics: traditional lectures, PBL, case-based learning, small group discussions, seminars, didactic conferences…Melding of basic science and clinical concepts throughout the curriculum; blocks of unscheduled time for individual or group study, elective coursework, and research; option of a fifth or sixth year of study and opportunities for earning joint degrees; area of academic focus designed to “ground” the student's education in an area of passionate interest; enhance student satisfaction with the study of medicine and foster a lifelong commitment to investigation and cross-disciplinary thinking; broad clinical science education in the first two years with early exposure to patient care and the practice of medicine; early entry into clinical clerkships; broader emphasis on doctor-patient communication, ethics, and the art of medicine….curriculum presented through “organ-based” (cool) block scheduling system. Year 1: In block sequence: Foundations of Medicine I – two major components with anatomy study throughout: 1. Molecular foundations of medicine and structures of cells and tissues, 2. Exploration of molecular processes (developmental biology disease and mechanisms, genetics, and an ONLINE biochemistry course…which is optional…pretty cool). The “Practice of Medicine” is the clinical correlate of this block…Students gain early patient exposure through this course…beginning in the first week of courses….specifics: extends throughout the first two years of medical school, interweaving core skills training in history-taking and the physical examination with four major threads addressing computers in the medical environment, nutrition principles, quantitative medicine, and the physician in society. A variety of teaching formats are used, including large group lectures, small group (8-12 learners) discussions, smaller groups (2-3 learners) for clinical demonstrations, clinical problem-based cases, standardized patients, videotaping and feedback about clinical interviews, self-paced learning, and team learning to emphasize both individual accountability and group problem-solving. Throughout the curriculum, clinical correlations map directly back to the basic science content, whether in gross anatomy, molecular foundations of biology, or physiology. In the second year, problem-based learning cases apply the anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology to clinical scenarios (this is cool)!!!!! Students also start a new major component of the curriculum during the first quarter, called the “Scholarly Concentrations ” – structured programs of study in the Medical Student Curriculum that promote in-depth learning and scholarship. The SC's provide medical students with faculty-mentored scholarly experiences in areas of individual interest combined with structured coursework to support this scholarship. This component of the MD curriculum develops critical thinking, skills in evaluation of new data, and hands-on experience with the methods by which new scholarly information is generated. There are 11 different concentrations, as well as an option to design a program independently…the 11 concentrations: Bioengineering, Biomedical Ethics and Medical Humanities, Biomedical Informatics (this is cool), Cardiovascular Pulmonary, Clinical Research, Community Health, Health Services and Policy Research (this is right up my alley), Immunology, Molecular Basis of Medicine, Neuroscience; Behavior; and Cognition, and Women’s Health….2nd quarter of year one: have continuation of Practice of Medicine and Scholarly Concentrations…plus Foundations of Medicine II: Introduction to Organ Systems, Gross Anatomy of head and neck, Immunology, The Nervous System….3rd Quarter (spring quarter): Human Health and Disease I – Cardiovascular and Pulmonary…so as you can see, study units are organized by organ system and integrate histology, physiology, pathology, microbiology, and pharmacology. Organ system units cover normal structure and function, response to disease (including infection), and treatment (therapeutics). Morning sessions are correlated with problem-based cases and physical diagnosis skill training in the afternoon Practice of Medicine block. Final unit on multi-organ systems provides pathophysiologic integration of material from prior units….Year 2: same format followed…organ based curriculum…same variety of lectures and increased patient interaction…Big Diff from other schools tat follow a 2 yr basic science curriculum is that students can begin clerkships during the spring (last) quarter (pretty cool)…so basically they can get a 2 month jump on figuring out specific interests…focus of curriculum shifts fully to pathological concepts...basically a continuation of what was initiated during spring quarter of first year…Courses: Block 2: 1st (fall) quarter – Human Health & Disease II: encompasses Renal/Genitourinary, Gastrointestinal/Liver, Endocrine/Reproductive….and also have Practice of Medicine course…2nd (winter) quarter of Block 2 is a continuation of 1st quarter (Human Health & Disease II) – Brain and Behavior course, Hematology, Multi-Organ System…plus Practice of Medicine course…3rd quarter: Transition to Clinical Clerkships…have one month of intensive preparation for clerkships and then study for USMLE and begin clerkships later in quarter…..Scholarly Concentrations continued during entire year (2nd year)….3rd and 4th Year: Clinical Clerkships – flexible scheduling with opportunity for broad clinical experience and/or continuation of scholarly concentration project….clinical correlations in clerkships provide review of basic sciences…Stanford has a very different approach to clinical clerkships…Students have 2 years to complete at least 15.5 months of required clerkships…clerkships: Medicine (8 weeks), Surgery (8 weeks), Pediatrics (8 weeks), OB/GYN (6 weeks), Family Medicine (4 weeks), Psychiatry (4 weeks), Neurology (4 weeks), Ambulatory Medicine (4 weeks), Critical Care (4 weeks), Fundamentals of Clinical Care (4 weeks), Subinternships (4 weeks), Clincal electives….possibility for away rotations (national and international externships)…A new component will soon be incorporated into curriculum: Applied Biomedical Sciences…purpose of new component is to provide continuity of instruction in basic or applied science topics across the curriculum, expose students to the latest advances in biomedical sciences, emphasizing their application to medical practice (translational medicine), to provide students with cutting-edge knowledge and clinical applications relevant to their scholarly concentration, and to reinforce and extend the study of behavioral, cultural, and socioeconomic topics introduced in the Practice of Medicine course sequence (cool)…Curricular Enhancements: Standardized Patient Program, Center for Immersive and Simulation-based Learning (CISL) – center links several simulation facilities that exist around the Stanford medical campus…the current facilities are highly technologically advanced…Now Stanford is building the Learning and Knowledge Center, which will further enhance the learning experience (beyond belief)…Center will have state of the art VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS (ranging from single patient to mass casualty settings), a WET/DRY classroom…gives students an opportunity to practice suturing and giving injections…mannequins serve as rehearsal for applying splints and casts….wowwwwwwwww!!!!!! Grading Intervals: 2 interval system (Pass/Fail) for all four years…Oh yeah Stanford also has a Medical Scholars Program (see Vanderbilt…they have a similar program)
Score: 15+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
#Affiliated Hospitals/Clinical Facilities: 5 with several affiliated clinics Score: 5.25
Selection Factors: Private, Rolling, extremely competitive (even the MSAR has a statement addressing the competitiveness…something they do not seem to have for other very competitive schools), Overall Median GPA: 3.8, Median Science GPA: 3.79, Median MCAT: 35Q (wow!!!!)….Breakdown: V: 11, P: 12, B: 12 (Ranges: V: 4 – 14, P: 8 – 15, B: 9 – 15, writing: L – T), 5986 applications for 485 interview spots Score: 3.25
Diversity: 20% URM, 52% Minority dammmmmmmnnnnnnnn Score: 15++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dual Degree Options: MD/MPH, MD/PhD Score: 3.5
Student Support: Office of Diversity…very strong commitment to diversity...sponsors several initiatives meant to support current minority students and increase minority enrollment (URM enrollment that is)…Office sponsors an Early Matriculation Program for URM’s…allow students to get head start in preparation for the upcoming quarter…Specifically: The EMP is offered during the summer quarter preceding the first year of medical school. It provides an early introduction to research opportunities at Stanford School of Medicine and introduces students to the medical school community. The EMP provides participants with an introduction of each of the scholarly concentrations in the new Stanford School of Medicine’s curriculum, and connects students with selected faculty with whom they begin their activities in one of the scholarly tracts. The program also provides course work in histology and biochemistry in order to help students prepare for their scholarly concentration activities. In addition, students participate in academic leadership workshops presented by Stanford School of Medicine faculty that will examine careers in academic medicine.
Miscellaneous: This school is in many ways intimidating…but a great school with a great concept….this is a cool concept!!!!!! NICE!!!! Strong SNMA and other minority groups (like SUMMA…Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance)…also many other student support/interest groups…Office of Student Affairs…plays role in student support services offered. Support Services: Academic Advising: students assigned to one of four Advising deans…Student Life Advisor: Student Life Advisor provides a confidential resource for the medical student body. Issues appropriate for this office include the following: interpersonal conflicts or misunderstandings; struggles with the stresses of school, family or social life; concern about having to appear before the Committee on Student Performance; uncertain career direction; questions regarding professionalism and discussions about the possible need of REFERRAL for: medical care, psychological care, tutoring, etc……Tutoring service, note-taking service, etc…Peer Counseling Program available through the Bridge Peer Counseling Center….Curricular Support: Several health-related libraries…however one primary health-science library…Several simulation centers around the health science portion of campus…currently building the state of the art Learning and Knowledge Center…will contain awesome virtual simulation labs (amazing), conference rooms, etc…quite amazing…Campus Shuttle…is needed…campus is HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!!! Score: 7++++++++++++
Housing: On campus housing guaranteed for the first year…off campus affiliated (technically still on campus…b/c Stanford just owns the majority of the damn city…hahahahahaha…not very affordable off-campus non-affiliated housing…go figure…it’s California (near Silicone Valley for that matter) Score: 5
Location: Stanford, California…cool to me…5 hrs away from home via car….diverse patient population Score: 5+++++++
Class Size: 86 so…….18% of interviewees matriculate….more are accepted Score: -1
Residency Match List: 31% of past graduates have entered primary care residency programs, 69% entered non-primary care residency programs
Volunteer/Research Opportunities: School is heavily involved in the community through various outreach initiatives and partnerships. The Office of Diversity and Leadership sponsors several outreach programs that target young minority students…e.g. Summer Medical Youth Science Program….School wide outreach programs and initiatives include: Pediatric Advocacy Program – engages in community service activities aimed at promoting child health and reducing health disparities, by harnessing the unique resources that a medical center and academic institution can provide. All service activiies are in partnership with community-based organizations serving children in the Bay Area….This advocacy program encompasses several individual initiatives…e.g. “Healthy Weight Healthy Futures Program” – Partnership with “Head Start” in Palo Alto to facilitate the development of a parent designed, family-centered obesity prevention program for preschool aged children and parents….Several departments also run individual community outreach projects as well….Students are also very active in the community through various means….There are several volunteer organizations on campus….Students also run 2 free clinics: 1. Arbor Free Clinic, 2. Pacific Free Clinic…..Research: Definitely a premier research institution that is at the forefront of conducting groundbreaking research…Students have several opportunities to get involved with research…one major way is through the Scholarly Concentration….Program itself provides ample opportunity for students to gain major research experience. Students can also elect to apply to the Medical Scholars Research Program – Students carry out research in an academic setting under the direction of faculty members at the medical school, hospital and clinics, and throughout the University and local community….program is separate from the MD/MSTP program…for students who are interested in gaining research experience beyond what a typical short term research program can provide…Students who do not want to get that heavily involved in to research have shorter options available (if they just want to get their feet wet…so to speak)….Students can take on a research assistantship position and be covered under the grant as well (stipend and tuition allowance)…Or they have the option of performing research under the observation of a faculty member for college credit….Many other research options available. Research Support: This school have SEVERAL research facilities….this school is constantly adding to its available space for research….many centers, institutes, and programs…One unique program at Stanford: “Bio-X Program” – program designed to promote interdepartmental bioscience research. The program fosters the convergence of leading-edge research in basic, applied, and clinical sciences across the spectrum from molecules to organs….One institute that Stanford is able to maintain b/c California is so dope (see Proposition 71 please…yes yes…Cali is really cool) is the “Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine”….Total NIH Funding: $264,441,696 (rank: 11th), Total NIH Research Funding: $244,979,866 Score: 11++++++
Miscellaneous: Definitely an awesome school…in many ways very intimidating…see MSAR disclaimer for Stanford…seems like a well balanced program…own golf course/driving range…nuff said…easy to follow website…Cost of Secondary: $85 Score: 2.25 (b/c of MSAR disclaimer)

Total Score: NO FULL SCORE ASSIGNED UNTIL ALL SCHOOLS COMPLETED…HELPS PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE INLETS FOR BIAS

 

[riceman04]

you obviously don't need all that info

but since I had it I might as well share it

 

[Nooblet]

where is that info from? sorry if thats a dumb question