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.