VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

• (MED 7400) Inter-Professional Early Clinical Experiences: 4 credit hours Although the credits are awarded in the final block, this is an integrated course, taught throughout the second pre-clinical year, and includes clinical experiences such as community health outreach programs (preventive medicine community outreach, free clinics and mini med schools), inter-professional team clinical experiences, laboratory experiences, and special populations experiences. The course is taught through clinical experience and graded on a pass-fail basis. Students must pass all experiences to progress. The course offers the student an orientation to clinical medicine from ambulatory and hospital-based perspective and prepares the student for the clinical environment. Campus Specific Electives

All Campuses: • (MED 8250/8250A/8250B) National Board Preparation: 15/17/19 credit hours

The National Board Preparation Course is designed to aid students in preparing for their COMLEX Level 1 examination. This course is assigned for students who have not passed COMSAE Phase 1 or COMLEX Level 1 and requires an Altered Degree Plan of Study, as approved by the Associate Dean, Vice Provost for APIEA, Director for Institutional and Student Academic Success, and Campus Dean. During the course, students will follow a study plan individualized for their unique board preparation needs. The study plan will consist of an approved external immersion program.

Virginia campus Elective: • (MED 8502) Health Policy: 2 credit hours

This course provides students an understanding of the structure of the United States’ healthcare system and the influence of policies on the cost, quality, and accessibility of health care services. The course introduces students to how health care is organized, delivered, and reimbursed. All topics, where applicable, will be discussed in the context of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and how policy affects the practice of medicine.

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