The goal of this introductory clerkship is to teach the student to obtain a complete medical history and to perform a general physical examination. The course begins in November and meets once weekly for 20 sessions ending in May. Groups of four students (working in teams of two) and one preceptor initially use self-exam to learn basic physical examination techniques. Starting in January, they work at the bedside with hospitalized medical patients to acquire these skills, with emphasis on both the techniques involved and on the interpersonal aspects of the doctor-patient interaction.

CLINICAL PRACTICE 2

The goal of Clinical Practice 2 is to expand on the fundamental clinical skills developed in the first year. While in the basic science curriculum students will focus on the universal principles of disease: pathophysiology, pathology and pharmacology; in Clinical Practice we will focus on that which makes each person and their illness unique. This encompasses dimensions of lifestyle, gender, culture, and society, as well as the behavioral and psychological factors that influence health, illness and adherence to therapy. Small group sessions focused on advanced interviewing skills are included.

Narrative Medicine Seminar Series

In the second semester, students will participate in the Narrative Medicine Seminar Series, a series of graduate-level small-group seminars in the humanities taught by P&S faculty and faculty from the main campus. Students may choose among seminars in literature, creative writing, history, life drawing, photography, philosophy, and religious studies. Some of the seminars offered in previous years include, The Philosophy of Death, Faith in the Study of Practice of Medicine, Women?s Illness Narratives, Medical Student as a Writer, Fiction Workshop, Photography, Life Drawing, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Physician Activism, and Acupuncture. . For a description of seminars offered previously, go to the Program in Narrative Medicine website at www.narrativemedicine.org/.

Students may elect to fulfill this requirement instead by enrolling in a main campus course in the humanities in the fall or spring. Course listings on the main campus are available in the Registrar?s office in Black Building or online and must be approved in advance. For more information, contact seminar series director Rita Charon at rac5@columbia.edu.

PHARMACOLOGY

The subject of the Pharmacology course is the effects of drugs and chemicals on physiological processes particularly in conditions of disease. Both basic mechanisms of therapeutic and toxic drug actions as well as practical aspects of drug administration to patients are the topics of the lectures and conferences. The course also teaches the vocabulary and concepts necessary for the use of drug therapy in the clinical years of medical school as well as for future practice.

PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE II

Skills and knowledge will be built upon those acquired in the first year. Major psychiatric disorders to be discussed will include Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Sexual Disorders. Normal child and adult psychological development will also be presented. Principles of psychiatric treatment will be introduced. Psychiatric patients will be interviewed in small groups.

The Second Year Faculty Committee is composed of the Course Directors and the faculty members shown below:

ELECTIVES IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS

This section describes electives that are offered to first and second year students through the Dean's Office. These are in addition to the required clinical selectives of the Clinical Practice I course. Students may also choose to participate in the following clinical electives:

Metropolitan Alumni Clinical Elective
A major objective of this elective is to help first and second year medical students get a better understanding of a particular specialty by spending an afternoon in a clinical setting with a P&S alumnus. The list includes physicians in 29 different specialties ranging from Anesthesiology to Vascular Surgery.

The Role of the Unsung Hero

Objective: To observe an anesthesiologist at work in the O.R. and in patient care.

One student every Saturday and Sunday morning will come in at 7 A.M. and report to the attending on call that day. He/she will have the opportunity to follow that attending, observe surgery from the anesthesiologist's point of view and interact with residents and patients.

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