Doctor of Medicine

The St. Louis regional campus of the Ponce Health Science University School of Medicine

An expansion of PHSU SOM an LCME-accredited 4-year program providing students with an ethnically diverse, innovative, and tech-driven education.

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Puerto Rico Campus

International School of Medicine

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About Mission & Vision Objectives Licensure Pathways Requirements

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

PHSU School of Medicine expanded its Doctor of Medicine program to the St. Louis campus. The MD program is an LCME accredited, culturally-focused 4-year program providing students with an ethnically-diverse, innovative and tech-driven education in a variety of medical practices. Medical students who choose to learn with PHSU are taught by real doctors with real-world experience in a wide-range of specialties.

The first two academic years provide a pre-clinical foundation with core disciplines as well as an introduction to clinical skills, behavioral science, and medical ethics. Our interactive and innovative curriculum helps prepare students for clinicals in core specialties during their third and fourth year. With an additional five months of advanced specialty elective rotations, students graduate with a culturally competent and high-impact degree ready to serve communities in need.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Graduates of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program will:

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Be ready for clinical practice
Have applicable knowledge of evolving and established biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral sciences
Provide compassionate, professional patient care with a high level of interpersonal and communication skills
Have an awareness of health care systems and how to best utilize resources to provide care at an optimal value
Be committed and sensitive to ethical principles and diverse patient populations

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Mission

To educate bilingual ethical professionals who provide compassionate, culturally competent health care and generate high impact research to reduce health disparities in the populations we serve in Puerto Rico and the US, through high quality education in a diverse environment.

Vision

To be recognized as a world leader in the delivery of bilingual culturally-competent medical sciences and research education.

Medical Education Program Objectives

By the time of graduation, students are expected to:

Medical Knowledge: Medical student must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and socio-behavioral sciences as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

Explain the normal structure and function of the body and of each of its major organ systems; as well as the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body’s homeostasis.
Explain the genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, microbiologic, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative and traumatic causes of disease states and their pathogenesis.
Identify epidemiological and other factors that place individuals at risk for disease or injury, select appropriate tests for detecting risks and determine preventive strategies for responding appropriately.
Interpret the results of commonly used diagnostic studies.
Formulate appropriate management strategies in the care for patients with common conditions, both acute and chronic, including pain and rehabilitation.
Describe the mechanisms by which therapeutic agents work and apply the principles of pharmacology in patient care.

Patient Care: Students must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the promotion of health and for the treatment of health problems.

Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families.
Obtain a complete and accurate medical history that covers all the essential aspects of the history taking in a patient-centered interview. Identify health issues and correlate with patient’s age, gender, cultural, spiritual beliefs, psychological and socio-economic status.
Perform a comprehensive and/or a problem-focused physical examination, including a mental status examination and accurately interpret the findings.
Formulate, using clinical reasoning an initial diagnostic impression and differential diagnosis.
Recommend appropriate diagnostic studies and therapeutic management plan based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence and clinical judgment.
Perform or assist during routine technical procedures, including but not limited to: venous and arterial puncture; placement of an intravenous line, transurethral and nasogastric catheters and suturing of simple wounds.
Recognize patients with life threatening conditions, with serious physical and or mental acute/chronic conditions in need of critical care and institute appropriate initial therapy.
Counsel and educate patients care givers and families about patient’s condition and aspects of health promotion and prevention.
Solve clinical problems in the context of culture, psychological, socio-economic status and the spiritual-health beliefs and needs of the patient.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective interchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and health professionals.

Develop a team relationship with patients and their families to provide patient centered care.
Use a patient centered approach with effective listening and communication skills during the medical interview.
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills with patients, their families and health professionals.
Document patient information in a comprehensive, timely and legible electronic or written medical record.
Demonstrate leadership skills as a member of a health care team and other professional groups.
Demonstrate effective interaction with colleagues and health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement: Students must be able to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence and continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning.

Demonstrate capacity to accept personal limitations and continuously improve one’s medical knowledge and clinical skills.
Identify the information resources and tools available to support life-long learning and self-improvement.
Review and incorporate the most current and relevant evidence based information in the diagnosis and management of patients.
Explain how to conduct clinical and translational research, its scientific and ethical principles and apply the results and evidence derived from those studies to patient care.

Systems-based Practice: Students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.

Work effectively in various health care delivery systems.
Deliver patient care according to the regulations and resources of health care systems.
Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities.
Promote cost-effective health care and optimal resources allocation.
Formulate appropriate management strategies for patients with clinical conditions that require short and long-term rehabilitation.
Identify and assess factors that place patient’s safety at risk and select appropriate interventions to minimize them
Collaborate with colleagues, health care providers and other professionals to assess and coordinate patient care.

Professionalism: Students must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.

Recognize ethical and legal dilemmas in medicine and demonstrate commitment to ethical principles.
Demonstrate sensitivity to the diversity of patient population, including, but not limited to differences in culture, social status, gender, sexual orientation and health beliefs.
Demonstrate understanding of and respect for the roles of other health care professionals.
Demonstrate honesty, integrity and respectful behavior in all interactions with patients and families, peers, preceptors, members of the healthcare team and others.
Demonstrate compassionate treatment of patients, respect and sensitivity for their privacy and dignity.
Recognize the threats posed by conflicts of interest and advocate for patients’ interest over one’s own
Demonstrate respect for patient’s autonomy in decision making.

Professional Licensure Information

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Professional Licensure
Licensure as a Doctor in Medicine is regulated by the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) while individual states are typically overseen by State Medical Boards. All 50 states and the US Territories require graduation from an LCME accredited program as well as passing the 3 step USMLE in order to obtain a license and practice as a Doctor of Medicine. Ponce Health Sciences University Doctor of Medicine program is an LCME-accredited program that aims to prepare graduates to sit for the USMLE. Some states have unique licensure requirements. For example, a jurisprudence exam is required in some states to test the graduate’s knowledge of state laws, rules, and practice acts that govern medical practice. Some require satisfactory background checks. These unique requirements are not associated with preparation in the PHSU MD program. The following link for the Federation of State Medical Boards provides contact information for individual state licensing authorities:

Professional Licensure Information

The Gateway to Your Future as a Physician

For MD students, choosing a specialty is a commitment requiring thorough research and planning. The PHSU School of Medicine (PHSU-SOM) provides career counseling services throughout the MD program to assist students through self-assessment, career exploration, choosing a specialty, and preparing for residency.

With the foundation of medical knowledge and clinical skills, our MD program also focuses on career development. Our career counseling services provide students with the guidance to make informed decisions when choosing a specialty. The PHSU School of Medicine offers comprehensive resources to aid in successful entry into residency programs upon graduation.

Examples of specialties that MD students at PHSU have matched with include:

Dermatology

white doctor with old man in mri machine

Radiology

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Orthopedics

Surgery

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Primary Care

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Admission Requirements

For more than 40 years, the MD program at PHSU has been producing diverse leaders for the medical profession.

PHSU St. Louis looks for students with a passion for serving others and keen interest in the medical sciences, demonstrated through scholastic achievement and persistent pursuit of volunteering, employment, extracurriculars, or other activities relevant to healthcare.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to apply:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7
Minimum science GPA of 2.7
Minimum MCAT score of 494
Completed prerequisite courses

With our focus on medical knowledge and clinical skills development, you can be confident that you are taking steps towards achieving your goals in the medical field.
If you meet the admission requirements above, we encourage you to apply today!

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Within the studies of the degree all applicants are requested to have completed the following courses:

Course	Credits
Biology	8
Chemistry	8
Organic Chemistry	8
Physics	8
Mathematics	6
Behavioral and Social Sciences	6
English	3

In addition to the above requirements, we strongly recommend coursework in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Liberal Arts and/or Humanities.

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