ALFAISAL'S INNOVATIVE SPIRAL MEDICAL CURRICULUM

Alfaisal University College of Medicine has developed a spiral curriculum, with three interconnected phases, where the outcomes of each phase build on each other to develop the final product of "a competent intern ". Phase 1 of the curriculum covers normal structure and function of the human body. In Phase 2 of the curriculum, the normal versus abnormal relationship is explored, in addition to the introduction of clinical skills for clinical practice. Phase 3 of the curriculum is the clinical clerkship phase, where students learn the practice of medicine and apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the previous phases. These phases of the curriculum are not distinct but rather interlocking so that knowledge gained in one is used to learn the knowledge and skills in the successive phases. For example, the structure and function of the heart learned in Phase 1 is revisited and reassessed when learning about the mechanism of heart diseases in Phase 2. Moreover, the disease mechanisms are revisited and reassessed when students learn the management of heart diseases in Phase 3 of the curriculum.

PRE-CLINICAL PHASE

Level 1 (Semester 1)
FON111          Foundation Block
MSK112         Musculoskeletal and Skin Block
GIT113           Gastrointestinal Block
MOL114         Molecular Medicine I
COM116         Primary Health Care, Rural Health and Prevention
ENG102          Freshman English I (GER)

Level 2 (Semester 2)
CVP121          Cardiopulmonary Block
HLS122          Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Block
REN123          Renal Block
GEN124          Genetics
MOL125         Molecular Medicine II
PRO115          Communication Skills
ENG113          English II (GER)

Level 3 (Semester 3)
END231          Endocrine Block
REP232           Reproductive Block
POD233          Pathogenesis of Diseases
PRO234          Professional Skills I
BEP235           Basics of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
ARB101          Arabic Language I (GER)
ISL101            Islamic Studies I (GER)
ENG224          English for Special Purposes (GER)

Level 4 (Semester 4)
NEU241          Neuroscience Block
HNS242          Head, Neck and Special Senses Block
BHS243          Behavioral Science
PRO244          Professional Skills II
RAD245         Radiology
ARB112          Arabic Language II (GER)
ISL113            Islamic Medical Jurisprudence (GER)

Level 5 (Semester 5)
CVP351          Cardiopulmonary Block
HEM352         Hematology-Oncology Block
MSI361           Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Block
EBM354         Evidence Based Medicine
PRO355          Professional Skills III
FMT357          Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
COM358         Family Medicine I

Level 6 (Semester 6)
REN364          Renal Block
GIT353           Gastrointestinal Block
END362          Endocrine Block
REP363           Reproductive and Breast Block
PRO365          Professional Skills IV
COM366         Family Medicine II
NTN368          Nutrition
MIF356           Medical Informatics and Quality of Care

CLINICAL PHASE

Level 7-8 (Semester 7-8)
MED471         Medicine
PED472          Pediatrics
SUR481          Surgery
GYN482         Obstetrics and Gynecology
HEN483          Health Economics and Health Care Management
PHL369          Medical Ethics

Level 9-10 (Semester 9-10)
IMD591          Subspecialty Medicine
INS592           Integrated Neuroscience
SSP5X1          Surgical Subspecialty
AMB5X2        Ambulatory Care

FIELD EXPERIENCE

MED600        Medical Internship

 

Assessment System at College of Medicine