ICM PALM Curriculum
The PALM Curriculum in the Basic Sciences (BS) is structured on such a way that it is intercalated within the rigorous program of the traditional disciplines of Basic Sciences organized in taught core disciplines of Ethics, Anatomy, Embryology, Histology with Cytochemistry and Cytogenetics, Biochemistry with Molecular biology and Genetics, Physiology, Preventive medicine, Epidemiology, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology.
However, each element of the instruction contains the primary manifestation of the clinical case as the starting point that is followed by its thorough analysis from the point of the disciplines taught and synchronized around it per each day of the instruction. That is completed by the ICM sessions involving standardized patients (STS) at the day conclusion. During such concluding sessions, integration of the BS knowledge is confronted with the interpretation of the clinical manifestations of the patient seen at the instruction day start.
The PALM Curriculum is taught by the Faculty with years of teaching experience in the Universities and Hospitals of the USA. All of the Faculty hold either MD, MDDS, or combined MD, PhD degrees. With such credentials, they are capable to put the Basic Sciences information into the medical relevance very effectively.
The PALM Curriculum is supported by the solid infrastructure organized in the form of traditionally called Departments (i.e., Anatomy, Physiology, etc). All the Departments are chaired by the very distinguished Faculty with the solid academic administrative experience.
The PALM Curriculum is supported by the rich online resources. These resources span from BS and ICM electronic versions of the handbooks (e.g., Goodman & Gilman) to the most recent versions of the clinical foundations (e.g., Harrison). These resources also include updated version of diagnostics and therapeutics.
The PALM Curriculum is seamlessly transitioned from the fourth trimester into the fifth trimester as the Comprehensive Basic Sciences Synopsis (CBSS) course. CBSS is aimed at reviewing the material, while preparing the students for passing NBME CBSE and USMPE Step 1 exams. These exams comprise primarily clinical vignettes as the questions canvas. Hence, the PALM Curriculum prepares the students very effectively that results in excellent scores.
Having passed the NBME CBSE and USMLE Step 1, the students gear into the trimester 6th, as the Comprehensive Introduction to Clinical Medicine Synopsis (CICMS) course. Therein the ICM Faculty, who have all solid clinical experience reinforce the basic elements of the essential elements of SOC. These include the interactions with the patients, while relying upon Ethics, History, Physical, Lab, Diagnosis, and Therapy foundations taught in ICM 1-4 during the previous trimesters.
Upon completion, the students are eligible to start the clinical rotations in the five Clinical Medicine Centers of the CMU SOM in the USA.
