Individualization Phase Course Descriptions

2 Acting Internships | 12 credit hours

Course Directors: Lindsay Wilson, MD and Mindy McKinney

The Acting Internship (AI) is a four-week inpatient or outpatient experience that allows students to prepare for the rigors of internship and can be taken at a UNC School of Medicine branch campus or clinical site. Students can select the clinical experience and site for the rotation. Letters of recommendation for residency application may be requested at the end of this rotation.

1 Critical Care | 6 credit hours

Course Directors: Jennifer Maguire, MD and Stacey Owen

Individualization Phase students are required to take a four-week selective in a critical care setting. The Critical Care Selective course is designed to provide experience caring for critically/acutely ill patients. It offers a multidisciplinary educational experience of fundamental physiologic and clinical principles for the care of critically/acutely ill patients. Approved Critical Care Selective clinical experiences take place in critical care units, specialty surgical practice settings, or other selected acute care settings. Students participate in all service activities including rounds, lectures, procedures, and case management.

1 Social and Health System 5 | 3 credit hours

Course Directors: Yee Lam, MD and Chris Jones

Social and Health Systems 5 is longitudinal and designed to develop an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and systems of health care, which is often referred to as Health Systems Science. Health Systems Science is increasingly recognized as an independent science that complements Basic Science and Clinical Science. It focuses on aspects of the team approach to patient care and systems for patient care (e.g. type of medical coverage, health care resources, home resources, and cultural needs). An operational understanding of these concepts will ultimately guide your practice and highlight systemic improvements that can be made to enhance the safety, efficiency, access, cost, and overall patient and provider experience. MD/MPH are exempt (Must replace with 3 elective credit hours).

1 Science of Medicine | 3 credit hours

Course Directors: Subha Sellers, MD and Mindy McKinney (General Inquiries)

The Science of Medicine course is longitudinal and focuses on the journey of medical advances, exploring the steps of basic research, translational research, clinical research, dissemination, and implementation. The course also reviews the ethics of science, funding, and publication. MD/MPH and MD/PhD students are exempt (Must replace with 3 elective credit hours).

1 Advanced Clinical Selective | 6 credit hours

Course Directors: Morgan McEachern, MD and Chris Jones

During Individualization Phase, students must complete an Advanced Clinical Selectives (ACS) at 6 credit hours. An Advanced Clinical Selective is a four-week clinical experience selected by the student in an area of their interest. Additionally, students will receive formative feedback on their preparation for internship and level of entrustability for professional activities (EPAs). These rotations may occur at any of our campuses.

ACS is designed to further improve students’ clinical skills in various specialties regardless of their career path. Advisors can help students choose an ACS which will both help prepare the student for internship in their specialty of choice but also help the student improve in areas in which he or she struggled during Application Phase.

Transition to Residency  | 3 credit hours

Course Directors: Winston Li, MD and Mindy McKinney

Offered once a year and aligns with Match Week. Requires students to be present in UNC Chapel Hill for the course.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

Course Directors: Jeff McQueen

Students will be notified to complete ACLS during a Chapel Hill rotation and is scheduled by the school.

Capstone TIPS (Tools for Internship Preparedness and Success)

Capstone TIPS is a REQUIRED course for graduation from UNC SOM. Students must complete a total of 40 credit hours of sessions (20 optional and 20 required) during the week leading up to Match Day. There are several opportunities for students to receive credit hours towards Capstone TIPS completion prior to that week including ACLS courses, Servics Projects, and other Workshops.

During Capstone TIPS week there are 4 types of sessions, all of which have mandatory attendance:

• Large Group Sessions: most of the class attends
• Small Group Sessions
• Elective Sessions: These may run at any time and attendance is mandatory if you are selected for that group.
• Asynchronous/Electronic sessions: You may choose the environment where you learn best: either at UNC SOM Campus or another site, with electronic materials.