Med 1 (Pre‑clerkship)

Learn the basics of medicine and patient care

This is your foundation year. In Med 1, the curriculum is divided into four units: Foundations I; Host Defense; Metabolism and Homeostasis I; and Human Development. Running across Med 1 and Med 2 are the Professional Competencies, Research in Medicine and Skilled Clinician units.

Read a detailed explanation of each unit on our units page.

A typical week [PDF - 363 kB]  and typical week with Monday holiday [PDF - 344 kB] in your first year includes:

  • tutorial group meeting for 2-3 hours, two times a week
  • 3-5 hours of lectures
  • a patient contact experience for 3-4 hours, emphasizing patient-doctor relationships
  • a 1/2 day for Research in Medicine
  • a 1/2 day of electives in second semester
  • a 3-hour laboratory related to the cases under study

Case-based learning in pre-clerkship

The unit objectives in Med 1 place an emphasis on uncovering issues in particular cases, and understanding "why" and "how" they occur. Cases are used to help you learn in a clinical context, and to help you apply the first steps of a clinical reasoning process.

In Med 2, cases will centre around "solving the mysteries" behind the cases, and then deciding on appropriate treatment plans.