Competencies and Education Program Objectives (EPOs)

Graduates obtain appropriate histories; perform skillful, comprehensive, and accurate patient examinations; and develop appropriate differential diagnoses and management plans. Graduates will recognize and understand the principles for managing life-threatening situations. They will select, perform, and accurately interpret the results of laboratory tests and clinical procedures in order to provide patient-centered care that results in high-quality outcomes. Graduates will be able to:

• PC-01 Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests
• PC-02 Perform under supervision appropriate level procedures considered essential for medical school graduates using compassionate person-centered care 
• PC-03 Organize and prioritize responsibilities to provide care that is safe, effective, and efficient
• PC-04 Interpret laboratory data, imaging studies, and other tests required for the area of practice
• PC-05 Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment  
• PC-06 Develop and conduct effective person-centered management plans
• PC-07 Counsel and educate patients and their families using plain language verbal, written, and multi-media resources (visuals, videos) so they can engage in shared decision-making and actively participate in their plan of care
• PC-08 Provide appropriate referral of patients including ensuring continuity of care throughout transitions between providers or settings, and following up on patient progress and outcomes
• PC-09 Provide preventive and wellness health care services to patients, families, and communities to maximize the quality of life

Graduates apply problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to problems in basic science and clinical medicine. They demonstrate knowledge about (1) an established and evolving core of basic sciences, (2) application of sciences to patient care, and (3) investigatory and analytical thinking approaches. Graduates will demonstrate their knowledge in these specific domains:

• MK-01 Demonstrate an investigatory and analytic approach to clinical situations  
• MK-02 Apply established and emerging basic scientific principles fundamental to health care for individual patients and populations
• MK-03 Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based healthcare
• MK-04 Apply principles of epidemiological sciences to the identification of health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, health equities, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for individual patients, diverse patients, and populations. 
• MK-05 Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences to the provision of patient care, including assessment of the impact of individual behavioral, psychosocial, and structural influences on health, disease, care-seeking, adherence to care, equity, and barriers to and attitudes toward care

Graduates are prepared to practice medicine today and in the future within the context of society and its expectations. They use evidence-based approaches, demonstrating proficiency with information retrieval and critical appraisal of the medical literature to interpret and evaluate scientific and patient care information. They are dedicated to continuous learning within the science of healthcare delivery. They understand the limits of their own personal knowledge, remediate inadequacies to remain current, and integrate increased self-knowledge into their daily activities. At the time of graduation, students have not yet established a practice but nonetheless will demonstrate awareness and understanding of general principles for:

• PBLI-01 Identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one's knowledge and skills
• PBLI-02 Set learning and improvement goals
• PBLI-03 Identify and perform learning activities that address one's gaps in knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes
• PBLI-04 Systematically analyze practice using quality improvement methods and implement changes with the goal of practice improvement
• PBLI-05 Cultivate a continuous learning mindset, seeking out and incorporating constructive feedback and reflection into daily practice while being present and accountable, prepared and engaged
• PBLI-06 Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to patient’s health problems
• PBLI-07 Participate in the education of patients, families, students, trainees, peers, and other health professionals
• PBLI-08 Obtain and utilize information about individual patients, populations of patients, or communities to improve care

Graduates demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals. They use effective communication skills with patients, families, and the community to educate and promote health and wellness. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

• ICS-01 Communicate effectively showing compassion and active listening skills with patients, families, and the public, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
• ICS-02 Communicate effectively and respectfully with colleagues and team members within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health-related agencies
• ICS-03 Work and communicate effectively with others as a member or leader of an interprofessional healthcare team or another professional group.
• ICS-04 Maintain accurate comprehensive, timely, medical records with attention to privacy and safety while adhering to legal and ethical standards
• ICS-05 Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations, including those about death, end of life, adverse events, bad news, disclosure of errors, and other sensitive topics
• ICS-06 Demonstrate insight and understanding about emotions and human responses to emotions, including one’s own, that allows one to develop and manage interpersonal interactions

Graduates are committed to carrying out professional responsibilities, demonstrating compassion, adhering to ethical principles, and are sensitive to diverse patient populations. Graduates respect patients, families, and professional colleagues and are advocates for improving access to care for everyone. Graduates will exemplify a professional character that exhibits:

• PRO-01 Demonstrate the professional values and attributes of a physician including compassion, integrity, and respect
• PRO-02 Demonstrate responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest
• PRO-03 Demonstrate respect for patient privacy, safety, and autonomy
• PRO-04 Demonstrate accountability to patients, families, society, and the profession 
• PRO-05 Demonstrate sensitivity and professionalism in all interactions and provide the same quality of care to all regardless of personal beliefs.
• PRO-06 Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to the provision or withholding of care, confidentiality, informed consent, and business practices, including compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations
• PRO-07 Commit to acquiring and/or practicing the skills need to be accountable to meet all learning outcomes
• PRO-08 Demonstrate positive wellness behaviors and healthy coping mechanisms to respond to professional, personal, emotional, physical, and system stressors
• PRO-09 Recognize that ambiguity is part of clinical health care and respond by utilizing appropriate resources in dealing with uncertainty

Graduates demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the context and system of health and healthcare. They recognize health disparities and are able to effectively call on system resources to provide optimal care. Graduates are able to work with patients both as individuals and as members of communities and take this into account when performing risk assessments, assessing symptoms, diagnosing illnesses, making treatment plans, and considering the patient care and systems-level implications of their work. Graduates will demonstrate:

• SBP-01 Work effectively in various healthcare delivery settings and systems 
• SBP-02 Coordinate patient care within the health care system
• SBP-03 Incorporate considerations of cost awareness and risk-benefit analysis in patient and/or population-based care
• SBP-04 Advocate for quality patient care and health care policies to optimal patient care outcomes
• SBP-05 Participate in identifying system errors and implementing potential systems solutions
• SBP-06 Understand basic principles of healthcare delivery, organization, and finance, how costs affect healthcare delivery, and incentives methods for controlling costs
• SBP-07 Understand the current and historical factors affecting health equity, including structural inequalities in access to and quality of health care, to improve the health of patients and communities