MD Program

The IUHS curriculum is the most advanced form of the Problem Based Learning format which is now often described as case directed systems based learning or systems focused case based learning.

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Pre-Clinical Program

The IUHS curriculum content is based on the US medical school teaching model which is in turn aimed to satisfy the learning objectives listed in the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CS and CK guidelines at www.usmle.org./

An innovation which IUHS developed within the medical curriculum is the organization of the content into eight week modules or blocks of learning. The principle advantages with this curricular organization are: 1) increased accessibility to the program for those students who need more time flexibility; 2) appropriate focus on the areas which some students need for increased comprehension. 

Each block has a set of cases or problems, arranged by organ system, for discussion in small group sessions. These cases serve as the framework on which lectures are intended to inform. This system allows the student to learn the whole mass of medical knowledge in smaller and more easily accessible portions. While still allowing the student to understand real clinical cases, this organization of the curriculum permits more manageable examination and assessment procedures. The benefit of this system is to give the student the freedom to follow interesting case problems as a learning stimulus while achieving success with the formal benchmarks of medical education such as passing the USMLE’s and obtaining state licensure. 

The IUHS Preclinical teaching model combines multiple modalities to achieve a learning platform for the student regardless of whether they are based on or off campus.

This innovative IUHS teaching model allows an individualized pursuit of education at a more personalized level. Implementing a distributed learning program component for the pre-clinical program allowed the student to bring “school” to them - into their home -  rather than expend a great deal of time and energy accessing “school”. 

The Preclinical Program prepares the student to become a clinical clerk by introducing them to the Basic Science of Medicine and training them to translate this knowledge into clinical thinking and practice. 

The weekly case done as a group study anchors the IUHS curriculum and provides opportunity to not only teach material relevant to all body systems but to facilitate the students to become independent learners as is expected of graduate level students. This includes skills of knowledge self-assessment that are crucial to their ultimate practice of medicine so they are able to confidently determine a differential diagnosis and know when to consult. Students pursue hundreds of cases individually to complement their classes, text readings and digital lab exercises to thoroughly study the scope of medicine and build these skills. This model of education prepares them for the challenge of the real patient’s problem ultimately and more immediately for the licensing exams which have adopted the patient case vignette form. 

The IUHS Preclinical curriculum is set up as an 80 week program divided into 10 eight week blocks of study.

The Basic Science component of the preclinical curriculum is provided during the first eight blocks. The focus of each block is listed below. 

Block 1: Introduction to the Basic Medical Sciences. Comprehensive Review of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 

Block 2: Microbiology & Immunology 

Block 3: Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems 

Block 4: Endocrine & Reproductive Systems 

Block 5: Gastrointestinal & Renal Systems 

Block 6: Neurosciences & Psychiatry 

Block 7: Hematology, Anatomy of extremities, Musculoskeletal Systems & Behavioral Sciences 

Block 8: Major Infectious Diseases, Autoimmune Diseases including Vasculitis, Congenital Anomalies, Therapeutics, and Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat 

Block 9: Review Block 

Block 10: Introduction to Clinical Medicine (integration and skills unit) 

During these ten blocks of instruction students meet with their local Physician mentor weekly for a half day in a cliniccal setting become familiarized with the practices and procedures of applied clinical medicine that are concurrently being presented in the lectures and case discussions. The clinical learning experience with the Physician mentor is standardized in the listing of clinical concerns and procedures relevant to each block. This mentor component of the IUHS program is one of the opportunities by which our students receive similar  traditional campus experiences including active hands-on training. 

The mentoring, cases and lectures directed at clinical thinking, which run concurrently with the block based curriculum, contain initiatives that span the entire medical school experience in conceptually linked items which can be further classified under headings such as Professionalism (including doctor patient relations and ethics), Standardized Patient Instruction, Longitudinal Cases, Family Centered Experience, Geriatrics, and Integrative Medicine. 

The Pre-Clinical program technically completes with passing USMLE Step 1 (or the IUHS Exit 1 exam in some cases) and the practical component of the transitional Introduction to Clinical Medicine Block that confirms the student’s competencies in the basic History and Physical Examination skills. 

 

Clinical Program

The clinical program begins during the pre-clinical years with our “Introduction to Clinical Medicine” (ICM) program. This comprehensive program introduces our students to the clinical concepts and skills necessary for clinical clerkships. The ICM program is conducted with the help of our associate clinical faculty, exposing the student to their first “hands on” patient contact.

Following successful completion of the 80 week Pre-Clinical curriculum including the ICM coursework and passage of all relevant exams, students begin the Clinical Medicine component of their medical education. 

The M.D. clinical curriculum consists of 80 weeks of “rotations” or “clinical clerkships” comprised of 48 weeks of core rotations and 32 weeks of elective rotations.

Clinical rotations are conducted under the close supervision of physicians through our affiliated teaching hospitals and clinics. Students are immersed in the clinical setting exposing them to the rigors and challenges of patient care. 

Where are clinical rotations conducted?

Students are able to participate in clinical rotations at approved health care facilities. IUHS strives to make available ACGME approved or affiliated clinical experiences for our US clinical rotations.  IUHS has affiliations with a multitude of hospitals and clinical rotation service providers across the globe. These affiliations allow IUHS students numerous opportunities and choices to complete their clinical clerkships. Students are also afforded the opportunity to arrange clinical opportunities on their own. The IUHS Clinical Department makes every effort to create meaningful, affordable clinical clerkship opportunities for all of our clinical students.

What happens during clinical rotations?

Students learn during clinical rotations by “apprenticeship” with the instructing physicians and through their direct work with the clinical staff, hospital staff and patients.  Traditionally, medical students would complete their core rotations in a hospital setting. However, this is changing with the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system and the emergence of the employed hospitalist. Many primary care physicians no longer care for their patients in a hospital setting, giving a greater role to the office based clinical setting. Students can expect to be exposed to clinical experiences which  closely mirror the practicing physician.

What is the order of clinical rotations?  

Critical clinical and professional skills are acquired during the first 48 weeks of core clinical rotations, providing the foundation of the student’s clinical education.  Students are encouraged to use the remaining 32 weeks of Elective rotations to enrich their clinical experience by exploring disciplines and areas of personal interest.

 

Core and Elective rotations

Core Rotations

The 48 weeks of prescribed core rotations are the foundation of the student's clinical education framework. The studies consist of the following:

 

Elective Rotations

The 32 weeks of elective rotations are sub-specialties. Students can choose to specialize in areas of most interest to them and to their future career.

Elective rotations may include, but are not limited to, such specialties as the following:

*As an International Medical School we appreciate that residency and licensing requirements vary among jurisdictions; accordingly the Clinical Dean will adjust a student’s clinical clerkship curriculum to address those requirements, providing the most beneficial and supportive clinical experience possible.

Entrance Criteria

For Acceptance to the School of Medicine, each applicant should have completed premedical studies in a degree program which includes the course work listed below. Traditionally this is a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (or equivalent) and for most students this will require 3-4 years of preparation in attendance at a University or College and normally equals 90 to 120 semester or credit hours at the University/ College level. IUHS welcomes applications from students from all disciplines, such as the liberal arts major having an interest in medicine who has integrated the premedical coursework into their program.  Many other degrees such as Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine include these courses or content or require them as prerequisites. For students who are missing some of these background studies or have none of them IUHS offers premedical courses.

Required Courses:

The mailing address for the Application Form package, the letters of recommendation and the Official Transcripts is: IUHS Admissions Department P.O. Box 1149 Hightstown, N.J. 08520 If you have any questions, please contact Paige Stewart at 1-877-487-6012 (option 1) or by email at admissions@iuhs.edu. 

 

Admissions Process

 

Enrollment Process

 

Tuition & Fees

IUHS School of Medicine tuition fees are listed below and are subject to change. Enrolled IUHS students are not subject to future increases to Pre- Clinical tuition fees. 

Note that textbooks, room and board and travel costs are not included in tuition fees.