Which DO schools have system based (integrative) curriculum?

[rkaz]

The only schools I am aware of that may fall under this category are ATSU- Mesa and Western. Can anyone confirm this? Are there other organ system based DO schools? I think the block approach would really be helpful in assisting me putting concepts together. While school location is my #1 factor of importance, curriculum is also a big consideration for me.

Thanks!!

 

[Eudjinn]

nycom

 

[RySerr21]

Western: confirmed

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Both PCOM's do.

To be honest, most medical schools are going this direction. I think that any school with a lecture-based curriculum is going to be systems-based/integrated.

I only know of a few schools when I applied that were still doing the traditional curriculum. Texas Tech was doing it, and the two people I know who were going there thought it was the worst piece of **** curriculum ever. If they haven't changed it now, they probably will soon.

 

[WDeagle]

NSU, Both PCOM's, Western, and NYCOM has systems based curriculum. KCUMB has the genesis curriculum which is systems based and LMU-DCOM is supposedly modeled after this. WVSOM has a systems based track. VCOM is based on systems with "some PBL" mixed in(at least thats what ive been told).

I think its pretty much safe to say that the majority of DO schools have SBL or at least some component of SBL. The only ones that i know of that dont are KCOM, DMU, the midwesterns, and LECOM-B. I think KCOM is in the process of changing over to SBL.

 

[Amy B]

VCOM is systems based and on a block schedule

 

[TeamZissou]

I can confirm that both Midwestern's (AZCOM and CCOM) ARE NOT systems based...

 

[steveinsf]

Tucom-ca

 

[Terpskins99]

KCUMB is system's based.

 

[paramediclizard]

RVUCOM is integrative, systems based...

(No flame wars please)

 

[JPanda]

I can confirm that both Midwestern's (AZCOM and CCOM) ARE NOT systems based...

hot darn it. ccom was looking pretty attractive for a while.

 

[HopefulDoc1984]

lmu-dcom is systems based after the first semester.

 

[sithr]

Seems like the consensus is that a system based curriculum is good thing? Anyone want to chime in with why they prefer it over the traditional curriculum?

 

[rkaz]

Thanks folks, this list really helps!

Why SBL? For me personally, I have always done better in summer courses, where I could spend a few weeks focused on one subject before moving on to something else.... versus spending a whole semester juggling 5-7 courses that had little to do with one another. I found it rather inefficient, and my brain would get overwhelmed with trying to switch back and forth between subjects. So being able to focus on one area (such as one system of the body) is something I think would be really helpful to me. Also it really helps me to learn something from a variety of different angles simultaneously, as I appreciate when concepts are reinforced in such a manner... as I learn best that way. When concepts from one class creep into another class, then I get how things are all interrelated, and I have a lot more 'Aha!' moments, which is a good thing in helping me retain information.

PBL is an absolute NO for me, as non-structured self-study would lead to terrible procrastination on my part. I need the structure of periodic testing to keep me on track... and a variety of teaching methodologies to keep me interested.

 

[RySerr21]

Seems like the consensus is that a system based curriculum is good thing? Anyone want to chime in with why they prefer it over the traditional curriculum?

I interviewed at a few schools that were traditional, and there were students that liked it and students that didnt, altho i'd say a majority were in favor. One of the things that they said they liked compared to a systems based curriculum is the review for the boards. By that, they meant that during the first year you are going over all of the normal anatomy/physiology and what not, and then second year when you are doing all of the path, you are also going over all of the material that you did during first year, which according to them, made studying for the boards pretty easy b/c you were basically reviewing during that 2nd year. One school in particular boasted of their high board scores, so it obviously worked for them. They compared this to a systems based curriculum in which you might have one block for renal in the beginning of first year, and then you dont see any of it again til you start studying for boards so it might make the review more difficult. So yea, this is what they said. They also followd it up by saying that traditdonal curriculum isnt for everyone and that you need to figure out which style is best for you. I can see the pros and cons for both curriculums and its all the same end result.

 

[Deepa100]

I apologize for my ignorance. What exactly is SBL or systems based curriculum?

 

[RySerr21]

I apologize for my ignorance. What exactly is SBL or systems based curriculum?

The curriculum is set up in to blocks, each block focusing on a system of the body. Here is the curriculum description of the 2nd semester at Western University.

DO 5125 Neuroscience System
DO 5130 Musculoskeletal System
DO 5145 Introduction to Disease, Immunity, and Therapeutics
DO 5155 Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry
DO 5175 Blood and Lymphatics System
DO 5180 Essentials of Clinical Medicine II
DO 5190 Osteopathic Principles and Practice II
DO 5199 Service Learning II

Here is the 3rd semester:

DO 6015 The Physician and Society II
DO 6020 Cardiovascular System
DO 6035 Renal System
DO 6040 Respiratory System
DO 6045 Endocrine System
DO 6080 Essentials of Clinical Medicine III
DO 6090 Osteopathic Principles and Practice III

So you can see how the courses are categorized into the different systems of the body. Notice how you never see courses like "pharmacmology" or "physiology" or anything ilke that. Thats because for each system, you will go over EVERYTHING about that system (biochem, anatomy, physiology, pathhophysiology, pharmacology, etc.). Hope that helps (and someoen correct me if my description is incorrect)

 

[meganmarie]

TCOM is systems based!

 

[DrMattOglesby]

ATSU-SOMA works with a system/organ based curriculum.

 

[rkaz]

Ok, after going through this list, and looking at old threads, here is the list I came up with... though feel free to correct anything that is incorrect! There are several schools at the bottom that I don't know where to place. Also, some schools have more than one track, and I just listed the info I found from SDN threads.

Many times schools don't entirely fall into one category or another, as they may be predominantly one category but with a bit of another.

Systems Based
-ATSU-SOMA
-KCUMB (option of SBL track)
-LMU-DCOM (after 1st semester)
-MSUCOM
-PCOM-PA
-PCOM-GA
-NSU
-NYCOM (option of SBL track)
-RVUCOM
-TCOM
-TUCOM-CA
-TUCOM-NV
-VCOM
-Western
-WVSOM (option of SBL track)

Traditional Lecture (non-systems approach)
-AZCOM
-CCOM
-OSUCOM
-UNECOM

Problem Based Learning
-LECOM-B (100% PBL)
-LECOM-E (option of 100% PBL track)
-NYCOM (option of PBL track)
-OUCOM (option of PBL track)
-WVSOM (option of PBL track)

?
-DMU
-KCOM (shifting over to systems)
-PCSOM
-PNWU
-TUCOM-NY
-UMDNJ

 

[sithr]

The for the explanation of the benefits/cons of SBL rkaz and ryserr.

 

[rajaholick]

from the msu site: During the first three semesters, students are immersed in introductory basic science concepts. Students are also introduced to physical examination, doctor-patient interactions, and the principles of osteopathic palpatory diagnosis and manipulative therapy.

What follows is a sequence of courses with an emphasis on learning content presented in a series of courses dealing with body systems. These courses provide integrated presentations of basic and behavioral science concepts and clinical aspects of each body system.

...so i guess its a mix between traditional and systems based?

 

[Terpskins99]

from the msu site: During the first three semesters, students are immersed in introductory basic science concepts. Students are also introduced to physical examination, doctor-patient interactions, and the principles of osteopathic palpatory diagnosis and manipulative therapy.

What follows is a sequence of courses with an emphasis on learning content presented in a series of courses dealing with body systems. These courses provide integrated presentations of basic and behavioral science concepts and clinical aspects of each body system.

...so i guess its a mix between traditional and systems based?

That sounds like systems based. Every systems based program I know of has an introductory period.

Traditional based approach (aka block scheduling) is where you have a period of time where you devote exclusively to just a few disciplines: biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, pathology... etc. In that time, you cover ALL the various systems within each discipline. Once you complete a particular discipline, you never re-visit the same topic again.

A systems based approach is where you study every single discipline of a single system simultaneously (be it respiratory, cardiovascular, GI... etc).

 

[andexterouss]

Touro-NY
The first year:Anatomy, basic biochemistry, neuroscience and clinical/preventive medicine.

Second year:All SBL(Systems Based Learning).Pharmacology,immunology and pathophysiology are all interwoven to each body system being studied.

 

[Spooner13]

Ok, after going through this list, and looking at old threads, here is the list I came up with... though feel free to correct anything that is incorrect! There are several schools at the bottom that I don't know where to place. Also, some schools have more than one track, and I just listed the info I found from SDN threads.

Many times schools don't entirely fall into one category or another, as they may be predominantly one category but with a bit of another.

Systems Based
-ATSU-SOMA
-KCUMB (option of SBL track)
-LMU-DCOM (after 1st semester)
-MSUCOM
-PCOM-PA
-PCOM-GA
-NSU
-NYCOM (option of SBL track)
-RVUCOM
-TCOM
-TUCOM-CA
-TUCOM-NV
-VCOM
-Western
-WVSOM (option of SBL track)

Traditional Lecture (non-systems approach)
-AZCOM
-CCOM
-OSUCOM
-UNECOM

Problem Based Learning
-LECOM-B (100% PBL)
-LECOM-E (option of 100% PBL track)
-NYCOM (option of PBL track)
-OUCOM (option of PBL track)
-WVSOM (option of PBL track)

?
-DMU
-KCOM (shifting over to systems)
-PCSOM
-PNWU
-TUCOM-NY
-UMDNJ

DMU's curriculum has a systems approach in the second year. Check out the link below for more info.

http://www.dmu.edu/com/do/curriculum/courses/