Undergraduate Medical Education

Faculty of Medicine

About

Medical students participating in a lecture on the Halifax campus

Graduating the next generation of physicians

Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) designs, develops and oversees Dalhousie’s accredited four-year MD program. We recently revamped our courses, giving Dalhousie Medical School the most up-to-date MD curriculum in Canada.

An expert team skilled in medical education, curriculum development, instructional design, clinical care, and health information collaborated in the development of our new four-year MD program. The curriculum draws upon established best practices in medical education and practice, both at the national and international levels, and student input continues to provide invaluable insight into our program.

The approach to teaching and learning is patient-centered through case-based learning involving students learning in small groups. Although the curriculum is clinically driven, the program is designed to provide students with opportunities to gain a strong foundation in the basic and medical sciences.

The guiding principles of our curriculum

We aim to graduate physicians who are:

Professional

As professionals, our graduates are able to join, and enhance, the medical profession through their commitment to excellence in patient care, high ethical standards, and accountability to society for the responsibilities entrusted to them.

Community contributors

As community contributors, our graduates understand a community’s health needs and respond to promote health. They contribute constructively to communities of practice and the institutions and healthcare systems to which they belong.

Lifelong learners

As lifelong learners, our graduates engage in self-assessment and reflective practice to integrate clinical experience and scientific evidence for the improvement of patient care, safety and outcomes.

Skilled clinicians

As skilled clinicians, our graduates are able to apply scientific understanding, clinical skills, professional attitudes and reflective practice in their provision of safe, patient-centered care, in collaboration with patients, families, colleagues and communities.