Academics

Objectives

Mission Statement: At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity.

Objectives:*

Patient Care

Provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health

Students will:

  1. Apply medical knowledge to achieve appropriate patient care.
  2. Acquire a high level of clinical proficiency in history taking, physical examination, differential diagnosis, and the effective use of medicine’s evolving diagnostic and procedural capabilities including therapeutic and palliative modalities.
  3. Demonstrate in clinical care an understanding of the impact of psychological, social, and economic factors on human health and disease.
  4. Apply the knowledge and skills necessary to address the needs of a diverse patient population.
  5. Counsel and educate patients and their families to empower them to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making.
  6. Perform medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for entering residency.
  7. Organize and prioritize responsibilities to provide care that is safe, effective, and efficient.
  8. Provide continuity of patient care throughout transitions between providers or settings.
  9. Provide appropriate documentation for clinical encounters in the medical record.

Knowledge for Practice

Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the basic and clinical sciences and their application to the practice of medicine and to discovery.
  2. Contribute to the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of new health care knowledge and practices.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

Demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate one’s care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to improve patient care based on self-evaluation and life-long learning

Students will:

  1. Identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise.
  2. Incorporate feedback into practice.
  3. Use information technology to optimize learning.
  4. Develop and utilize the skills necessary to critically evaluate the medical literature and integrate new developments into medical practice in an appropriate manner.
  5. Display effective teaching skills in the education of colleagues, other health professionals and patients.
  6. Possess the skills to analyze practice using quality improvement methods, and to suggest changes with the goal of practice improvement.
  7. Identify the factors that may affect the quality and safety of health care delivery.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills 

Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals

Students will:

  1. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
  2. Demonstrate respect and empathy with patients, patient families, colleagues and staff.
  3. Communicate effectively with others as a member of the health care team or other professional groups.

Professionalism

Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation.
  2. Exhibit the highest moral and ethical standards in the care of patients and in their interactions with others.

Systems-based Practice

Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of various types of health care systems, their role and their impact on health care delivery.
  2. Work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems.
  3. Incorporate considerations of cost awareness and risk-benefit analysis in patient and/or population-based care.
  4. Participate in identifying system errors and suggesting potential systems solutions.

Interprofessional Collaboration

Demonstrate the ability to engage in an interprofessional team in a manner that optimizes safe, effective patient- and population-centered care

Students will:

  1. Work with other health professionals to establish and maintain a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust.
  2. Use the knowledge of one’s own role and the roles of other health professionals to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of the patients and populations served.

Personal and Professional Development

Demonstrate the qualities required to sustain lifelong personal and professional growth

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate the ability to use self-awareness of knowledge, skills, physical and emotional limitations to engage in appropriate help-seeking behaviors.
  2. Demonstrate healthy coping mechanisms to respond to stress.
  3. Manage conflict between personal and professional responsibilities.
  4. Carry out professional and educational commitments in a professional manner.

*The educational objectives of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine’s curriculum are grouped by competencies as defined by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (AGCME) and the Physician Competency Reference Set as defined by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).