Journeys Curriculum

The Georgetown medical experience is centered in cura personalis — care for a person’s psychological, spiritual, social well-being in addition to their physical well-being. It lays the groundwork for the intellectual and ethical formation of physician-healers committed to the clinically competent care and well-being of their patients and dedicated to the health needs of the underserved in our society.

The result is a community of scholars and healers who are challenged to achieve their personal potential; dedicated to healing the individual patient; committed to serving the healthcare needs of the community and advocating for those who have no voice in our society.

The Journeys Curriculum broken down into three distinct phases: the Foundational Phase, Core Clinical Phase, and Advanced Clinical Phase.

Foundational Phase

Critical thinking, cognitive integration and life-long learning are qualities that are vital to successful medical practice and guided the development of the pre-clinical phase. The Foundational curriculum is divided into six blocks of core content each followed by a two-week study and exam period. The blocks are organized in a logical progression of organ-system based modules that integrate basic science disciplines and doctoring training. Cura personalis refers to and unites courses related to the development of professional skills unique to doctoring that include physical diagnosis, communications and ethics; cura personalis will run throughout all blocks. Intersessions are week long courses emphasizing topics critical to the modern physician in today’s health care industry. Medical Student Grand Rounds is a longitudinal course throughout the first three years and will be housed within the Intersession periods. 

Core Clinical Phase

The Core Clinical Phase is comprised of a 48-week core clerkship year beginning with a one-week Bootcamp (orientation) and coupled with 2, one-week intersessions. Students will complete the following core clerkships: Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Neurology, and 3, 2-week Selectives. 

Advanced Clinical Phase

The Advanced Clinical Phase is the final year of the medical education program that begins with a Journeys II Phase and transitions into the fourth-year courses including Actining Internships, Emergency Medicine, and Electives.