Course Description

The required Physical Diagnosis Course for second year medical student is an introduction to clinical medicine. Students will learn the knowledge and skills essential for performing a medical history and physical examination. The Course emphasizes patient interviewing, acquiring a medical data base, and performing a comprehensive physical examination. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts. Special sessions are used to optimize teaching of concepts in several subject areas. Over the entire semester, close interaction occurs between students and physician preceptors. Groups of four students are assigned to two faculty tutors who will guide their introduction to history taking, examination, and case write-ups. While there is a final practical examination, acquiring and refining clinical skills are lifelong processes for any physician.

Administrative Staff

Course Director- John Leonard, M.D. The Course office is in MCN D-3100; phone 322-6936.

Course Coordinator - Faapio T. Poe, Course coordinator is a critical liaison for students and faculty. They play an integral role in planning and implementing the Course and helps throughout the semester with problems that arise. Their office is also in MCN D-3100 (Department of Medicine); phone 322-6936. Contact them for issues regarding patient assignment or other questions.

Course Objectives

• Develop skills in medical interviewing that allow for establishing rapport and gathering accurate and complete information while maintaining patient comfort and dignity.
  
• Acquire and hone the knowledge and skills to perform a complete physical examination, including a beginning appreciation for distinguishing normal from abnormal.
  
• Learn to present an organized, thorough case history in both written and oral form.
  
• Develop sensitivity for each patient which requires insight into several areas: "who is he?", "why is she ill now?", "how is he dealing with illness?", and "what troubles her the most?"
  
• Recognize that this is an introduction to the medical history and physical examination. There is no expectation of mastery by the end of the course.
  
• Develop an excitement for clinical medicine and patient encounters that carries over into third year clerkships and beyond.

The final grade for the Course is determined as a composite of the following:

Course grades will be recorded as "Honors", "Pass" and "Fail".

A Course syllabus is provided to all students and tutors. It contains detailed information about lectures, assigned reading, tutor group assignments, and other information relevant to the Course.

Students are encouraged to provide verbal and written feedback about any aspect of the Course to Dr. Leonard. The completion of a web-enabled evaluation of tutors and the Course is required at the end of the semester.