The UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) Curriculum Committee, the primary governing body for the school’s curriculum, approves the UWSOM medical education program objectives (MEPOs). MEPOs are broad statements of the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes that a medical student is expected to exhibit as evidence of achievement of all programmatic requirements by the time they complete the four-year medical education program. MEPOs are meant to guide the selection, review, and revision of curricular content, and LCME-accredited medical schools must provide evidence that students are achieving competency in MEPOs prior to graduation.
The MEPOs are organized into six competency domains (Patient care, Medical knowledge, Systems-based practice, Practice-based learning and improvement, Professionalism, Interpersonal and communication skills) that align with both the AAMC Foundational Competencies for Undergraduate Medical Education and the ACGME Core Competencies. Each course/clerkship has learning objectives that are mapped to the MEPOs. Assessments in courses/clerkships are assigned to MEPOs through this objective mapping to provide evidence of students’ ongoing progress and development in the medical education program.
Patient Care
Demonstrates compassionate, effective, evidence-informed, and equitable patient-centered care.
- PC.01 Gathers patient histories, including multiple data sources as necessary, and performs a physical examination.
- PC.02 Creates differential diagnoses, proposes diagnostic testing and interprets results based upon most likely diagnosis.
- PC.03 Proposes management plans for commonly encountered conditions based on scientific evidence and clinical judgment.
- PC.04 Identifies patients in need of urgent or emergent care, seeks assistance immediately, and recommends initial evaluation and management.
- PC.05 Adapts care equitably to the clinical situation integrating patient and caregiver identities, values, and preferences.
- PC.06 Performs procedures considered essential for entering residency.
- PC.07 Collaborates in transitions and coordination of patient care, including patient handoffs.
- PC.08 Appropriately applies technology to inform clinical reasoning and decision making.
Medical Knowledge
Applies and integrates foundational, clinical, and social sciences knowledge to improve health care for patients and populations.
- MK.01 Applies foundational knowledge for clinical problem-solving, diagnostic reasoning, and decision-making.
- MK.02 Demonstrates knowledge of social and environmental drivers of health, racism, and systems of oppression that impact the practice of medicine.
Systems-Based Practice
Applies knowledge of the larger context of health, including its social and structural determinants, and of systems and resources within and outside of health care to optimize patient, community, and population health.
- SB.01 Demonstrates situational awareness in different health care teams, delivery settings, and systems and adapts behavior accordingly.
- SB.02 Demonstrates knowledge of health-care policy, resource utilization, and the financial context of healthcare.
- SB.03 Identifies patient safety problems, systems issues, and opportunities for quality improvement.
- SB.04 Recognizes mechanisms to reduce disparities and advance health equity in patient care and health care systems.
- SB.05 Demonstrates knowledge of local population and community health needs and resources to promote health.
Practice-Based Learning & Improvement
Integrates feedback, evidence, and reflection to adapt behavior, foster improvement, and cultivate lifelong learning.
- PB.01 Engages in informed self-assessment and reflective practice and identifies opportunities for growth in one’s own performance.
- PB.02 Actively seeks and incorporates feedback and assessment data to improve performance and professional identity formation.
- PB.03 Demonstrates curiosity and ability to synthesize and critically appraise new knowledge to support clinical care and personal growth in the profession.
- PB.04 Demonstrates scientific inquiry through scholarship.
Service to Patients & Community (Professionalism)
Demonstrates integrity, respect, and ethical reasoning and promotes inclusion in all interactions to improve health care for patients, communities, and populations.
- PR.01 Uses ethical principles and reasoning to guide behavior, decisions, and to safeguard patient privacy.
- PR.02 Demonstrates a commitment to prioritize patients while balancing needs of self and team members.
- PR.03 Recognizes and addresses personal well-being needs that may impact professional performance and/or patient care.
- PR.04 Completes duties and tasks in a thorough, reliable, and timely manner.
- PR.05 Identifies the limits of one’s own knowledge and ability and seeks help appropriately.
- PR.06 Identifies personal biases and uses strategies including cultural humility to mitigate their effects.
- PR.07 Takes ownership of mistakes and acts to address them.
- PR.08 Demonstrates respect and compassion for patients, caregivers, families, and team members of all backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Effectively communicates and interacts with patients, caregivers, and the health care team to contribute to high-quality patient-centered care.
- CS.01 Demonstrates active listening.
- CS.02 Uses patient-centered language to describe clinical plans including known risks and potential benefits.
- CS.03 Recognizes and responds to emotions in self and others to develop and manage interpersonal interactions.
- CS.04 Educates others and shares feedback constructively and respectfully.
- CS.05 Communicates clearly and compassionately with patients, other health professionals, and community members in a manner that creates trust and fosters collaboration and belongingness.