Undergraduate Program

Introduction to internal medicine

During your medical school training at Dalhousie, you'll be introduced to the Department of Medicine and its subspecialty divisions.

Med 1: First-year medicine

You will learn the fundamentals of medicine through the discussion and study of cases, lectures and patient interaction. Internal medicine is integrated in most first-year units and all divisions in the department except for Endocrinology offer first-year elective experiences.

Med 2: Second-year medicine

Similar to first-year medicine, you will learn through a mix of case discussion and study, lectures and patient interaction. The breadth and depth of discussion and study increases with emphasis on clinical reasoning and management. You can choose electives from among all areas of internal medicine via the department’s divisions.

Med 3: Third-year medicine

The 12-week internal medicine clerkship includes two 4-week rotations and two 2-week rotations:

• one 4-week rotation on a medical teaching unit in Halifax or with a team of general internists in Truro
• one 4-week rotation in acute inpatient medicine in cardiology, critical care, hematology, infectious diseases, nephrology, neurology or palliative medicine
• one 2-week rotation in geriatric medicine
• one 2-week rotation in an outpatient based subspecialty of your choice

Under the supervision of senior members of the Department of Medicine, you'll develop your history-taking and physical examination skills and learn to investigate and manage common medical problems.

Med 4: Fourth-year medicine

Med 4 consists of a scheduled block of 18 weeks of elective time. Students can choose electives from any Dalhousie department at any Dalhousie site, or from other medical schools in Canada or internationally.