MD Undergraduate
The Office of Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta oversees the four-year program leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD).
The Faculty's undergraduate medical education objectives are to develop knowledgeable, compassionate, collaborative, reflective and professional physicians committed to quality healthcare and life-long learning.
Education, research and patient care are integrated into the curriculum. The program balances traditional teaching with opportunities for students to be active learners. Teaching methods include:
- Lectures and laboratory instruction
- Small-group case studies and problem-based learning
- Internet-based tutorials
- Preceptor-guided clinical skill sessions
Undergraduate MD Program
Years one and two are divided into organ-system blocks:
- Introductory Block
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation
- Endocrine System
- Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Renal Systems
- Gastroenterology and Nutrition
- Reproductive Medicine and Urology
- Musculoskeletal System
- Neurosciences
- Oncology
Each block presents the material in a progression from basic science to clinical application.
Years three and four consist of clinical training:
- Third year - Students are placed in the standard six main specialty rotations as well as elective experiences. Alternatively, students can undertake the Integrated Community Clerkship program followed by their electives.
- Fourth year - Students take part in rotations that provide opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of several sub-specialties, as well as Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics and Urban Family Medicine.
During their undergraduate degree, students interested in research have the opportunity to put in more time in the lab and acquire a special designation that formally recognizes their additional research training.
