At Feinberg, first-year medical students spend their first week of medical school in interactive lectures, small group discussions and hands-on activities during the Introduction to the Profession Module. This weeklong program gives students an idea of the issues they will encounter throughout their medical education and careers as physicians; it covers topics including teamwork, communication, patient safety and quality and personal awareness.
During their Introduction to the Profession Module, first-year medical students picked up their medical equipment, including stethoscopes.First-year medical students listened to instructions for a simulation teamwork exercise, in which students were divided into groups and tasked with solving a puzzle as a group.Four teams of medical students raced against each other to try to solve a puzzle. The exercise reminded students of the importance of teamwork, communication and benefits of utilizing resources appropriately.Sneda Goswami and Kyle Fahey, both first-year medical students, observed imaging technicians as they took a series of radiographs to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract. Students had the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals during their Focused Hospital Experience.Goswami learned about the day-to-day activities in imaging. “It was so cool to have our first experiences in the hospital this early on in our medical education,” she said.Nathan LeDeaux (right) spent an afternoon in the surgical pathology gross room, where pathology technologists handle specimens from operating rooms. “This experience served as a good reminder that there are a lot of essential jobs in the hospital that make it possible to do your job as a physician,” he said.During an interactive lecture on patient safety and quality, students discussed case studies. Other lectures throughout the week focused on topics such as health equity and advocacy and codes of ethics and professionalism.
