The Phase 1 curriculum is a single-pass organ systems model, integrating normal structure and function with disease states, diagnostic strategies and patient management. Clinical skills are taught in the Doctoring course, which runs throughout Phase 1.

Patient interviewing skills, physical exam maneuvers, point-of-care ultrasound and clinically important topics such as social determinants of health, patient safety, quality improvement, biases in medicine and patient-centered care are introduced in the Doctoring course and integrated throughout the curriculum. The changes introduced into phase include active learning modalities, with increased use of flipped classroom, simulation, case-based discussion and self-directed learning. During Phase 1, the students also can take electives in the humanities, clinical disciplines or research.  

The Phase 1 curriculum was shortened by approximately six weeks, allowing the Phase 2 (clerkship) curriculum more time for electives, independent study, a new required scholarly project in the fourth year, and a capstone course. The Phase 2 changes are intended to enhance preparation for residency. 

In April 2022, a restructured Phase 2 of the curriculum was implemented, and Transition courses were introduced at key points in the educational program: Transition to Medical School, Transition to Phase 2, Transition to Phase 3 and Transition to Residency. These pass/fail courses feature curricular content that specifically addresses learning needed for all courses within the upcoming phase or in the case of the Transition to Residency course, needed for day one of residency. The Transition to Phase 2 course prepares students for all upcoming core clinical clerkships, such as the role they will play as members of the care team, how to approach learning in a clinical setting and how their performance will be assessed. Students will also learn important skills such as effective use of the electronic health record and how to communicate with other members of the health care team. In addition, Intersessions courses were introduced before a specific clerkship or set of clerkships and are designed to prepare students to successfully engage in learning in the setting of specific clinical disciplines. Students participate in learning sessions focused on discipline-relevant content and engage with topics from specific longitudinal threads that are especially relevant in the upcoming core clerkships. This allows students to apply and reinforce learning as they encounter opportunities to examine topics such as social determinants of health, patient safety and cultural competency as they participate in the care of patients.  

Phase 2 of the curriculum includes the Transition to Phase 2 course, four Intersession courses and 36 weeks of required core clerkships in family medicine; internal medicine; neurology; obstetrics and gynecology; pediatrics; psychiatry; as well as surgery, four weeks of scholarly work, a two-week career exploration rotation, and two to six weeks of electives.