University of Wisconsin–Madison Medical College of Wisconsin

An Innovative Course for the Clinical Years: A Look Back at the Last Decade

Cynthia Kay, MD, MS; Leslie Ruffalo, PhD, MS; Marika I. Wrzosek, MD; Carley Sauter, MD; Ashley Pavlic, MD, MA; Mary Ann Gilligan, MD, MPH; Kathleen Beckmann, MD; Svetlana Melamed, MD

WMJ. 2025;124(2):123-128

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ABSTRACT

Introduction: In the traditional 4-year medical school model, the final 2 years are the clinical years. These years bear challenges and experiences distinct from the preclinical part of medical school.

Methods: We implemented a longitudinal, multifaceted, 2-year course involving advising, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, and discussions to help students at a private, Midwestern medical school navigate the clinical years, ensure graduation competencies are met, and prepare for residency. Participants were third- and fourth-year medical students from 2013 to 2022. The course, titled “Continuous Professional Development,” was run by a core group of faculty representing a variety of specialties.

Results: At the end of each academic year, students completed evaluations on the components of the course and the course as a whole. Feedback was generally positive, with students rating the one-on-one advising and short sessions related to clerkship and residency transitions particularly beneficial.

Conclusions: Students value educational content specifically tailored to their clinical experience. While having a single course responsible for multiple programs and sessions appears to be uncommon for undergraduate medical education, our course shows that it is possible and can be done effectively with a relatively small cohort of faculty.


Author Affiliations: Dept of Medicine, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Kay); Dept of Family and Community Medicine, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Ruffalo); Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Wrzosek); Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Sauter); Dept of Emergency Medicine, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Pavlic); Dept of Medicine, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Gilligan); Dept of Pediatrics, MCW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Beckmann); Dept of Pediatrics, Children’s Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Melamed).
Corresponding Author: Cynthia Kay, MD, MS, Department of Medicine, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and Medical College of Wisconsin, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI; email ckay@mcw.edu; ORCID ID 0000-0003-2649-6078
Financial Disclosures: None declared.
Funding/Support: None declared.
Statements and Declarations: The views reflected in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs. A portion of this manuscript was presented at the Annual 2022 International Association of Medical Science Educators in Denver, Colorado, June 4-7, 2022.
Acknowledgements: The CPD team would like to thank Jennifer Klumb and Heather Aschoff for supporting the program.
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