I'll let Becky get back to learning about arrythmias and ECGs and try to answer some of your questions.
I really love UCSF's new curriculum too... the first block is the Prologue and it is kind of a laying-down of the basic material that you need to understand in order to conduct further learning throughout the rest of medical school. Thus, you cover essential anatomy and histology and concepts in physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, cell biology, and other relevant areas, all unified by the presentation of a motor vehicle accident trauma victim. The rest of the blocks following Prologue are organized by system. As Becky noted, we have almost completed our first week of the Cardiovascular block. We next have Pulmonary and then Renal. Then comes a block on Cancer, and finally the Brain, Mind, and Behavior block during spring quarter. Second year, there are several more blocks (i.e. Immunology, Metabolism, Life Cycle, etc). Each of these blocks is taught in an integrative fashion, comprising normal anatomy, physiology, histology, etc as well as pathophysiology, pathology, pharmacology, imaging, etc.
There is also another block that runs throughout the two years, called Foundations of Patient Care. In this course, we learn aspects of the medical interview, physical exam skills, ethics, and preceptorship. We have already gotten to interview and perform physical exam skills we have learned in the first several weeks on patients. It's really cool having this early clinical exposure. In addition, after the Cardio block in December, we have a one-week period called the Clinical Interlude, in which we become part of a medical service team and round on patients, kind of like MS3s!
We have weekly PBL, several small groups or labs per week, and only 2 hours of lecture a day. Thus, there is a lot of free time, which you can use how you see fit. There are numerous extracurricular opportunities (i.e. Homeless health clinic, U-teach in which you follow a woman through pregnancy, labor, and delivery, Medteach in which you go to elementary school to teach kids basic anatomy, etc, and many others). Among other things, I'm taking a graduate class along with the regular medical school curriculum.
There are also abundant opportunities for research, both clinical and basic, if that interests you. There are several fellowships available and tons of superb researchers and labs on campus.
I find the environment very welcoming, my classmates absolutely amazing people, the faculty superb, and the administration very supportive of students. Therefore, I think UCSF provides a great environment to learn medicine.
That all being said, you definitely can't go wrong with either choice. You'll have to see where you feel most comfortable. If you need any help in deciding, feel free to contact me. Good luck with admissions and hope to see you here next fall!
