The fourth year is divided into eleven one-month blocks. All students are required to complete and pass the following eight blocks:
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine M4 Emergency Medicine Clerkship will introduce the student to the initial assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of typical chief complaints seen in an emergency department. The student will spend 4 weeks in a busy emergency department seeing both pediatric and adult patients suffering from medical, surgical, or traumatic disease. Students will be responsible for the assessment and management of their patients while working closely with other students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians as well as hospital staff, nurses, respiratory therapists, and chaplains. Students will observe and may participate in a variety of procedures. Regular attendance at weekly didactic and hands-on conferences, simulation sessions, and journal clubs is required. A case presentation will be required.
The University of Central Florida College Of Medicine M4 Critical Care Clerkship is designed to make the transition from basic clinical sciences to acute care of patients with life-threatening conditions and who need advanced life support technology and personnel. The clerkship is based in the hospital Intensive Care Unit and the educational experience will come from a multidisciplinary team of hospital-based intensivists, critical care fellows and residents, consulting physician specialists, critical care nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists, social workers, other health care professionals, and most importantly, the patients and their families who are cared for by this team. The practice of critical care medicine is based upon sound physiological principles, evidence-based practices, application of cutting-edge technology, meticulous attention to details, and a compassionate, humanistic approach to severely ill or injured patients and support of their families at their time of crisis.
The three remaining blocks of the fourth year may be used for other electives, independent study, further research, residency interviews or remediation (if needed). Students finish the fourth year with a four-week Capstone Experience that provides specialty-specific preparation for internship, leadership training and teaching experience.