Curriculum Ridiculous

[jamal925]

Hi everyone,

 

I am interested in applying to mac for the MD graduate program. I was browsing the mac website trying to find what to expect from the program, the curriculum in particular. I tried this website:

http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/CALENDAR/current/pg1274.html

 

and did not find the "Medical Foundation" "Conceptual Themes" very helpful. I was hoping someone could provide me with some more specific information about the MD Graduate program in regards to the actual courses from year 1 to year 3, and elective options.

 

I was expecting something along these lines from the mac website about the MD curriculum:http://www.studentdoctor.net/2010/01/medical-school-101-what-medical-school-is-really-like/

 

Year 1:Gross anatomy, biochem, pathology, etc

 

Year 2: etc

 

 

Thank you,

[future_doc]

I believe if you use the search fuction and check the threads, its all out there in detail.

[sfinch]

It's not the most normal curriculum, that is for sure. But in clerkship they learn practical stuff, and they get their ass truly in gear during residency. But yeah - MAC med students are not well known for their broad based scientific medical knowledge - at least as medical students.

[Jewels1986]

Most med schools don't teach in the way that you're describing. The basic sciences are taught in the blocks/foundations along with the clinical sciences, so they generally don't have their own courses. Everyone takes the same program, and until clerkship electives are voluntary - you can do them if you like, but they're not a specified part of the program the way they are in undergrad at most schools.

 

University of Toronto is an exception to the above, as they start with basic science and do clinical science after. Queen's may do a little of that as well, but I'm not sure what their new curriculum is like.

[Satsuma]

I just looked at the site and the curriculum does not seem so ridiculous to me.

 

Meds schools are usually organized by systems - so while you are doing say GI then you are learning the anatomy, physiology, pathology etc. in that block (or foundation as they seem to call it) for that system.

 

Toward the bottom of the page it lists specifically how many weeks of electives you have and when they occur. Electives in medical school are set up by you. They aren`t courses offered by the school. So if you are interested in cardiology - then you would arrange an elective in cardiology for example. They can`t reasonably list all possible electives on a website.

[medhopeful64]

Just sort of a general question - when they say "electives" does that mean medical school electives, or any elective (ie, from another faculty)? this might be a dumb question, but once you get to med, is everything you take just science?

[ploughboy]

Just sort of a general question - when they say "electives" does that mean medical school electives, or any elective (ie, from another faculty)? this might be a dumb question, but once you get to med, is everything you take just science?

 

Without having looked at the website, I would guess that they mean clinical electives (eg urogynecology in Saskatchewan)

[rmorelan]

Just sort of a general question - when they say "electives" does that mean medical school electives, or any elective (ie, from another faculty)? this might be a dumb question, but once you get to med, is everything you take just science?

 

maybe a bit off topic but we cover things like ethics, and certainly many lectures with a broader sociology bent to them as well at many schools I know of. I suppose of course learning how to interview/take history etc aren't exactly science either

[mizz.lee]

Electives are a core part of the McMaster program. They're essentially observerships you set up for yourself to experience different aspects and environments of medicine. All it requires is that you find a physician willing to let you watch/help I think you have a supervisor who you conference with regularly about what you are learning from your electives, too, to make sure you are on track.

[medhopeful64]

maybe a bit off topic but we cover things like ethics, and certainly many lectures with a broader sociology bent to them as well at many schools I know of. I suppose of course learning how to interview/take history etc aren't exactly science either

 

Ah, I see, thanks for the info

[thebouque]

Hi everyone,

 

I am interested in applying to mac for the MD graduate program. I was browsing the mac website trying to find what to expect from the program, the curriculum in particular. I tried this website:

http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/CALENDAR/current/pg1274.html

 

and did not find the "Medical Foundation" "Conceptual Themes" very helpful. I was hoping someone could provide me with some more specific information about the MD Graduate program in regards to the actual courses from year 1 to year 3, and elective options.

 

I was expecting something along these lines from the mac website about the MD curriculum:http://www.studentdoctor.net/2010/01/medical-school-101-what-medical-school-is-really-like/

 

Year 1:Gross anatomy, biochem, pathology, etc

 

Year 2: etc

 

 

Thank you,

 

 

The ''1st year anatomy histology neuroscience embryology etc'' and ''2nd year pathophysiology clinical'' structure gives a very good knowledge of the medical sciences but that kind of program is mostly found in the USA, not here in Canada. In Canada, most schools (with the exception of a few like Toronto and McGill and even then...) are more clinically oriented. Preclerkship (first 2 years or year and a half at Mac) is spent learning about the various systems but the emphasis is on the diagnosis/treatment and not on the basic structure and function. Don't get me wrong, we do learn basic sciences here, just not as much as in the USA. I started a thread on this matter if you want to take a look http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38644. Trust me, not many Canadian students have dissected the whole human body or have spent countless hours looking at histology and histopathology slides nowadays.

 

Peace