Method of Course Delivery

Method of Course Delivery

OMS-III and OMS-IV

Students in the third year are enrolled in required clinical rotations in the core disciplines of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Family Practice, Women's Health, Pediatrics, and Behavioral Health. The fourth year includes required clerkships in Emergency Medicine, Primary Care selective, Specialty Medicine selective, and at least one selective in a community/rural/underserved healthcare setting. Required clerkships in the third year are focused in the Central Valley of California and elsewhere in the state. Additional clerkship opportunities in the fourth year allow students to audition/experience electives in the discipline of their choice.

Clinical Clerkships

Clinical clerkships are sometimes referred to as rotations, clinical experiences, or externships, with a teaching physician referred to as a preceptor, attending, or faculty. A clerkship in the third year will be four weeks of clinical responsibilities. Due to the varied nature of fourth-year clerkships, fourth-year clerkships will be a minimum of 2 weeks. Clerkships may involve inpatient, outpatient, or a combination of these settings. At the conclusion of these experiences, an evaluation of the student by the preceptor and the clerkship and of the preceptor by the student is required. Students should familiarize themselves with the individual syllabi for each required clerkship.

All COM students must be enrolled in academic activities throughout the entirety of the third and fourth academic years.