Curriculum

Congrats — you made it to medical school! Now what? It’s completely normal to feel nervous, excited, or somewhere in between. There’s no doubt that the start of this journey can feel overwhelming: you’ll be hit with a ton of information, experience new things, and meet an incredible variety of people. So, what’s the best way to deal with this big change?

For many of us, the key to adjusting has been building strong friendships early on. Your classmates will be your closest allies during Phase 1 and beyond. Having a solid support network can make all the difference when things get tough, so take the time to connect and invest in those relationships.

Another piece of advice? Take it slow. Everyone here has done incredible things to get to WashU Med, and it’s tempting to dive headfirst into extracurriculars, research, or volunteering right away. If that’s your style, go for it! But remember, med school is a huge change. It’s okay to focus on finding your footing before you take on too much.

And here’s perhaps the most important advice: Don’t compare yourself to others. Seriously—don’t. You’ll see classmates joining clubs, pursuing research, or using study methods that seem completely different from yours. You might even feel like you’re not the smartest person in the room. But guess what? Everyone here is brilliant, including you. Each of us has a unique journey and a different way of thriving. Keep reminding yourself: you made it to WashU Med for a reason. You deserve to be here. 

So, to sum it up: be kind to yourself, avoid comparisons, prioritize friendships, and take things at your own pace. Be open to new experiences and perspectives—you might find something unexpected that works for you or expands your horizons. Most importantly, welcome to WashU Med—we’re so glad you’re here!

Welcome to WashU Med Anatomy! We hope you will enjoy your Anatomy experience as much as we love teaching it. Human anatomical dissection is a rare and privileged experience, and you will learn more from the process than from any textbook. Our body donors have given you an incredible gift from which to learn the geography of the human body and the variation therein. Take this gift seriously and honor their wishes, but enjoy the experience.

The Anatomy lab is a vibrant place where you will spend much of your time engaging with faculty and peers as you work through the structures assigned for that week. You will dissect as a team with three of your peers, exploring the material through tactile discovery. Although there is a huge amount of material in the anatomical sciences, try not to let this overwhelm you. We are training you to be doctors, not anatomists. You will not retain every detail of the subject, but you will become familiar with the language and concepts of anatomy with more immediacy than you may have thought possible. Work closely with your team, and take advantage of the presence of the faculty and teaching assistants.

Remember that having fun is not incompatible with learning! We look forward to working with you in your exploration of the structure of the human body.

Amy L. Bauernfeind, PhD
Associate Professor of Anatomy in Neuroscience
Vice Chair of Education

Kari L. Allen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anatomy in Neuroscience

The grading system at WashU Med is probably the most confusing topic for prospective (and current!) students. WashU Med uses a “competency/no-competency” based grading system, which yes, sounds like just a fancy way of saying pass/fail, but there are important differences.

What’s the same is that there is a “threshold” students have to meet to attain competency, just like getting a 70% to "pass." What’s different is that you cannot “fail out” due to a single test or module. If you don’t meet an overall threshold of 70% at the end of a module or exam, you will not be asked to retake that module. Instead, WashU Med measures our points attained longitudinally across multiple courses and various types of assessment, and we receive our designation of competency/no-competency at the end of each phase before passing on to the next (there are three phases: pre-clerkship, core clerkships, and specialization).

It is probably best explained using an example. Let’s say over four modules we will have taken eight exams and had several other assignments that contribute to competency. All of these assess our knowledge in different areas (i.e. biochemistry, health equity, health systems sciences, anatomy, genetics, etc.). WashU Med keeps track of our progress in each of those areas over time. If a student is lagging in any given area, we discuss those areas for improvement with our coach or the Student Success Team well in advance of the competency determination. That way, we can improve before we would reach the point of earning a “no-competency” designation. It makes preparing for exams feel less like a make-or-break situation and keeps you in the focus of aiming to be the best learner you can be.

Students that are completing their core clerkships in Phase 2 are able to gain “competency with distinction” in foundational knowledge, clinical reasoning, and interpersonal communication. This is similar to "honors," but it is not competitive in nature. It is awarded to any number of students at the end of the phase, and it is truly a merit-based recognition for outstanding performance in a particular area of clinical performance and is also based on how we have done over the entire phase.

The final phase, the specialization one, also measures our performance across multiple courses using many types of assessments. Students in this phase are able to apply for “competency with distinction” in systems-based practice (how we help improve the patient experience or health care system) and practice-based learning and improvement (demonstrating how we have worked to improve an area of weakness or use literature to improve patient care).

In terms of competition, WashU does not keep internal rankings of students and does not participate in Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). Exam grade distributions are not available to the class, and that helps facilitate a collaborative learning environment. Classmates are always working together to compile resources in shared Google drives to learn the material (Anki decks, notes, useful guidelines, etc.). Each class makes a class-wide chat, and the students keep each other in the loop about upcoming deadlines, where to find resources, ask questions, and so on.

Amanda R. Emke, MD, MHPE
Assistant Dean for Student Assessment
Associate Fellowship Program Director, Critical Care Management
St. Louis Children's Hospital

The Health, Equity, and Justice (HEJ) curriculum stands out as a cornerstone of WashU Med's Gateway Program. By exploring how social and structural factors influence health outcomes, it illuminates the real challenges encountered by patients, healthcare providers, and community advocates in St. Louis. The curriculum's longitudinal structure demonstrates how these factors intersect with various medical disciplines, providing a comprehensive understanding of healthcare disparities. Through HEJ, students develop essential skills to address complex challenges when serving diverse patient populations, and it prepares them to become compassionate providers committed to protecting vulnerable patients.

 

The Medical Scientist Training Program here at WashU Med is a collaborative space where students are able to participate in cutting-edge research while learning new medicine in the context of the 21st century. The community here is really big which provides a great resource for students to connect with upperclassmen and MD/PhD faculty members and gain supportive mentorship for this long journey ahead. Throughout Phase 1, the Gateway Curriculum is well-integrated with weekly journal club and Thursday seminars to further engage with the topics outside of the classroom. These journal clubs and seminars allow us to meet researchers and is also a great opportunity for us to engage with the food scene here in St. Louis! The Medical Scientist Training Program administration does a great job at supporting our journeys and making sure we feel at home here.

 

Phase 1 of the curriculum is WashU Med’s preclinical education and is split into seven modules. Each module lasts about seven weeks and exams are typically twice per module. The first module is an introduction to medicine, called Molecules to Society. The subsequent six modules are typically organ-system-based, such as Circulation and Breathing (Cardiovascular, Pulmonary), Ins and Outs (GI), and more! Each day, we can expect the morning to be dedicated to lectures relating to this content, which are typically a mix of in-person and online, small group vs. lecture-based, as well as required or recorded for later viewing. Three afternoons per week also include Clinical Skills, Coaching, or Health, Equity, and Justice (HEJ). There are also plenty of early patient interactions built into the curriculum, such as clinical mentoring with a fourth-year student or Standardized Patient sessions. Outside of the seven modules, students have one month in May — June to explore their interests through the EXPLORE program. Students can pursue a project in Global Health/Advocacy, Education, Innovation, or Research through EXPLORE. Overall, Phase 1 of the curriculum does a great job of teaching us the clinical and scientific fundamentals to enter the wards, while still allowing flexibility and encouraging students to pursue their interests.