Orientation and Introduction to Medical Education
Reynaldo O. Joson, MD, MHPEd
The general objective of the learning unit on Orientation and Introduction to Medical Education is to get the medical students oriented to their medical college, the medical profession, general management principles in medicine, and how to study.
Aside from knowing the requirements of the college of medicine and the medical curriculum (as guided by the Commission on Higher Education requirements), the students are oriented to the health status of the world and Philippines and to history of medicine. The health status of the world and Philippines is included in the orientation and introduction because of the primary mission of the medical school and medical graduates in solving the health problems of their community. The history of medicine is included in the orientation and introduction to prime the medical students of what to expect and what they should do in the practice of medicine.
The medical students are oriented to the medical profession, the types of physicians, and how to plan to become a basic-generalist physician.
Basic principles in the management are included to enable the students get the foundation on managing different responsibilities they have to assume as a physician, such as managing a patient; solving the health problems of the community; managing a rural health unit; presenting in medical conference; and conducting health research.
Lastly, the framework on how to study and how to prepare for examinations, particularly the Philippine Board of Medicine Examination, is introduced in this course pack. The focus is on problem-based learning as it is how physicians continue to learn medicine after graduation.
Conducting such a course on Orientation and Introduction to Medical Education, I think, should rightfully be the first agenda or activity at the start of medical schooling. It will facilitate the further development and mastery of the subsequent courses that come after and in later years up to the time of graduation of the medical students.
ROJ@17may6