Universidad University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (New Jersey Medical School)

The nation’s best medical schools are known for providing the highest quality medical education, research, patient services and community outreach. At New Jersey Medical School, these priorities are combined with a commitment to constant innovation and progress.

As a result, NJMS is experiencing remarkable growth in these critical mission areas. Such progress is truly a mark of our success as a medical school. Some of our most recent achievements include:

Education — Applications from highly qualified students are on the rise. In Fall 2004, we instituted a new curriculum, focused on active learning and the importance of humanism in medicine, which offers students exciting new challenges and learning opportunities. More than 700 faculty and 1,300 volunteer faculty in our 19 academic departments play a critical role in transforming our students into first-rate physicians.

Research — Research funding at NJMS has doubled since 1996. During fiscal year 2004, funding reached an unprecedented $103.9 million - a 17 percent increase over the previous year. This funding is coupled with an impressive list of groundbreaking discoveries by a world-class cadre of researchers.

Clinical Care — In addition to employing state-of-the-art treatment tools and innovations, construction on major cancer and ambulatory care centers is rapidly progressing. These facilities will offer patients unparalleled care in convenient and welcoming environments. At the same time, a focus on specialty areas of medicine — including infectious diseases, cardiovascular science, neurological and visual sciences, cancer and trauma — ensures that we are meeting a wide range of patient needs.

Community Outreach — Our longstanding ties to the community are being strengthened by a variety of support programs. In addition to providing vital healthcare information and services to the community through neighborhood outreach programs and health centers, NJMS continues to expand and support initiatives that provide career opportunities and help our neighbors achieve personal success.

All of these steps forward are critical in the growth of NJMS. By growing our success, we are redefining the future of medicine while distinguishing ourselves among the nation’s leading medical schools.

The mission of New Jersey Medical School is to educate students, physicians, and scientists to meet society’s current and future healthcare needs through patient-centered education; pioneering research; innovative clinical, rehabilitative and preventive care; and collaborative community outreach.

The NJMS Curriculum was recently enhanced and re-structured so that the basic sciences and clinical sciences are integrated throughout all four years of the curriculum providing students with exciting challenges and learning opportunities that reinforce our goal of preparing students in the art and science of medicine. Innovations include the beginning of a two-year Physician’s Core course in which students begin to learn and practice important clinical skills such as interviewing and examining patients. Additionally, important fundamentals of patient care will be taught with modules in medical ethics, humanism and professionalism, cultural competency, doctor-patient relationships, and medical-legal issues.

The keystone of the new curriculum is a Doctoring course that begins in August 2004. The Doctoring course is one in which students learn and begin to practice important clinical skills, such as interviewing and examining patients, beginning in their first semester of medical school. Important fundamentals of patient care will also be taught, with modules in medical ethics, humanism and professionalism, cultural competency, doctor-patient relationships and medical-legal issues. Students will learn state-of-the-art clinical decision-making using a longitudinal evidence-based medicine course that helps them remain lifelong learners and exceptional, up-to-date doctors throughout their careers.

The Doctoring course takes place one full day each week throughout the first two years of medical school. Each day consists of a half-day of clinical experience and a half-day of structured sessions at the medical school. During the first year, the clinical experience takes place with a community preceptor (a primary care physician in practice) who hosts the student in his or her office. The preceptor mentors the student in learning the history and physical exam skills. In the context of patient care, important issues, such as ethics and cultural competency, integrate with the modules that are being taught in class. Students will also see patients with a variety of medical problems. For example, it is much more meaningful for students to study cardiac physiology in the basic science class when they have already seen patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure. This rich background of patient care serves as the framework for learning basic sciences.

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New Jersey Medical School Medical School Location

New Jersey Medical School Courses

YEARS I AND II

The first two years of the new curriculum at New Jersey Medical School are devoted to providing an understanding of the basic sciences, which are integral to the practice of medicine, as well as a comprehensive introduction to the field of medicine through a course on Doctoring. The basic sciences will be taught in an interdepartmental manner to ensure that a complete understanding of the interplay of different disciplines can be appreciated. Interdepartmental courses will utilize a variety of teaching modalities, including lectures, laboratories and small group interactive sessions.

COURSES :

* Neuroscience I :The department initially organized a curriculum in neurosciences in 1972 which is now a 90 hour required course in the first year. This integrated basic science/clinical course covers primarily neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, with some neurochemistry and neuropharmacology, as well as clinical correlations. The Neuroscience course is taught by basic scientists and neurologists in the Department of Neurosciences. In 1990, the LCME cited this course as being one of the best in New Jersey Medical School, and in 1996 our medical students selected the Neuroscience course as the best basic science course. In the 1997-1998 academic year the Neuroscience course received the highest evaluation scores by students in the first year class.

* Introduction to Clinical Science : The department teaches a Neurology component in the Introduction to Clinical Science (ICS) course in the second year curriculum, and also participates in the second year Psychiatry course.

* Human Anatomy and Development : An anatomical study of the human body, with an emphasis on the morphological basis for injury or disease, is presented. Gross structures are studied in the laboratory by cadaver dissection and demonstration. Basic radiographic anatomy and clinically important surface anatomy combine with the laboratory dissection to define 3-dimensional organization of the body. Lectures stress the contribution of developmental events to gross anatomical organization and the correlation of this organization with clinically relevant conditions.

* Cell and Tissue Biology : A study of normal biology and histology of human cells, tissues, and organ systems is presented. First, histological structures pertinent to each topic are studied in the laboratory by microscopic observation. Pre-lab slide or micrograph demonstrations, generated from a central video studio, serve to highlight important details to be assessed on each microscopic slide. Lectures, specific to the topic studied in the laboratory, then follow to provide structure-function relationships and apply the established histological principles to interpretation of clinically relevant conditions.

* Molecular & Genetic Medicine : Molecular biology brings together biochemistry with genetics and is a cornerstone of all biology and medicine. Biochemistry has long influenced medicine (and vice versa), and advances in human genome research are bringing genetics into clinical practice at an accelerating pace. Cells and organisms develop and function under the direction of the genetic information encoded in their chromosomes and in response to environmental stimuli. Genes are expressed through biochemical pathways, and many of the stimuli are themselves biochemical. Developmental processes and homeostatic responses are implemented through biochemistry.

* Medical Microbiology : The Medical Microbiology course includes lectures, laboratory exercises, and case discussions. Laboratories emphasize the properties of infectious agents and provide a setting for informal discussion with the faculty. The first part of Medical Microbiology deals with morphological, physiological and genetic characteristics of prokaryotic organisms and the chemical basis of disinfection, chemotherapy and pathogen control. The second part concerns infectious diseases caused by bacteria and a few eukaryotic parasites. The third segment is devoted to viruses and viral diseases of humans. The fourth part deals exclusively with eukaryotic pathogens, i.e. fungi, protozoa, and parasitic worms. Specific microorganisms are considered with regard to their life cycles, biological properties, metabolism, mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention and control.

* Medical Physiology : This course is designed to provide first year medical students with knowledge of human physiology. Cell physiology and systems physiology are taught. The course includes lectures, clinical correlations, laboratory exercises and small- group conferences.

* Medical Pharmacology : This course prepares the second year medical student for the rational and safe use of drugs in the control, prevention and therapy of human disease. It includes the presentation of general principles of pharmacology and fundamental information on various classes of pharmacological agents.

* Mind, Brain and Behavior : Mind, Brain and Behavior (MBB) is an integrated course that ranges from basic neuroscience and gross anatomy of the brain, to neurological diagnosis and psychopathology. The faculty is drawn primarily from the Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, with other departments participating as appropriate. The course synthesizes basic science and clinical aspects of information about the central nervous system to promote the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and the development of diagnostic skills. Many of the teaching modalities that are utilized emphasize active student participation. Information on key topics is provided in the form of lectures, patient presentations and small-group tutorials, as well as laboratory sessions on neuroanatomy and gross anatomy of the brain. Acquaintance with contemporary research ideas and techniques is fostered by journal club sessions that review papers from the current literature.

YEARS III AND IV

The third and fourth years of the curriculum at New Jersey Medical School are devoted to providing exposure to the depth and breadth of clinical medicine. During the third year, students will rotate through the major disciplines in medicine (internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology). Clinical experiences will include both in-patient and ambulatory rotations. Students will spend time at a variety of hospitals including an inner-city hospital, community hospital and a veterans administration hospital.
In the fourth year, students will assume a higher degree of autonomy and responsibility as they rotate through acting internships and an emergency medicine rotation, and select from a wide range of electives, both at NJMS and throughout the country.

COURSES :

* Neurology Clerkship : A required four week clerkship in neurology has been given to fourth year students since 1973 and is currently available to third year students who defer other clinical rotations. The LCME positively cited the course during its review. In addition, our students have performed well above the national average on national shelf exams which cover clinical neurological topics.

* Emergency Medicine

* Surgical Anatomy : This elective course is generally offered to students planning to enter surgical or surgical subspecialty residency programs. Therefore, the course is tailored to emphasize subsections of gross anatomy required by the respective students. Requisite cadaver dissection, coupled with clinically relevant laboratory previews and demonstrations, provide the basis for the customized anatomical reviews.

* Pediatrics Clerkship : New Jersey Medical School pediatric residency is a fully accredited three-year program offering general pediatric training developed according to the guidelines of the American Board of Pediatrics and the ACGME. Successful completion of the program qualifies the resident for admission to the certification process of the American Board of Pediatrics. Three years of accredited pediatric residency training are required prior to entry into most subspecialty fellowship programs. UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School also offers combined training programs in Pediatrics/Internal Medicine and Pediatrics/Child Neurology.

* Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship : Students serve as members of the health care team. They divide their time equally between the obstetrics and gynecology divisions and serve in both the respective inpatient and ambulatory services. In each division, daily rounds with a faculty member provide a focus for clinical activities. Students also make work rounds with members of the resident staff to learn the elements of patient workup and treatment, and pre- and postoperative care for surgical patients in the discipline. In scheduled daily didactic sessions the major concepts of the discipline are presented to guide students reading and clarify important issues.

* Orthopaedics Clerkship : The program of resident education consists of a core teaching program as well as individual teaching programs at each participating institution. Both programs are supervised and coordinated through the Chairman and Program Co-Director. The core education program covers all major orthopaedic subspecialty areas and basic sciences in a two-year cycle.

* Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clerkship : The clerkship in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is scheduled as a two-week block. Students are assigned to clinical experiences in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at one of approximately 20 rotations. Didatic presentations are given to the entire group of students on Wednesdays. The final examination is given on the last day of the rotation.

* General Surgery : During the General Surgery rotation, residents are exposed to surgeries of the abdomen, alimentary tract, breast, endocrine system and head and neck surgery. Laparoscopic and endoscopic programs further enrich our residents' experiences. The Division's philosophy is that only with active "hands on" participation in the medical and surgical care of the patient can residents achieve their true potential. Consequently, the faculty fosters a program of progressive responsibility of patient care, beginning with the first postgraduate year.

* Otolaryngology/Head and Neck : The Division offers a five year, fully accredited residency training program leading to Board eligibility. In addition to University Hospital , Otolaryngology residents rotate through the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange , and Hackensack University Medical Center . The residency program is fully integrated into the Department of Surgery and includes one year of General Surgery followed by four years of specialty training. The rich clinical experience is complemented by a variety of didactic courses given throughout the residency program, including training in head and neck pathology, temporal bone dissection, speech pathology, audiometry, and head and neck anatomy.

* Acting Internship in Surgery : This Acting Internship in Surgery seeks to enhance the skills acquired during the third-year clerkship and provide the fourth-year student with the opportunity to function as a first-year surgical resident. With supervision by senior residents and attendings the acting intern will become proficient in the diagnosis and management of surgical problems. Critical decision making will be stressed so that students planning and not planning a career in surgery will gain experience in the timing of surgical consultation.

* Psychiatry Clerkship : Third year medical students participate in a six week rotation with the Department of Psychiatry. The clerkship is offered at one of four affiliated hospitals: University Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, East Orange Veterans Administration and Morristown Memorial Hospital. Emphasis is placed on performing a thorough psychiatric interview, creating a differential diagnosis and developing a comprehensive treatment plan for each patient. Students experience training on such services as inpatient, consultation-liaison, ambulatory and emergency.

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