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The University of Alberta MD Program is a 4-year degree program. The first two years are referred to as "preclerkship" and encompass a combination of classroom based activities, lab-based sessions, and some early clinical experiences.
The second two years are focused on workplace-based learning and referred to as "clerkship", where students will rotate through different clinical specialty areas with direct patient interactions and functioning as a member of the healthcare team.
More details on the overarching curriculum can be found here:
https://www.ualberta.ca/medicine/programs/md/our-program/curriculum/index.html
Students can explore in greater detail how the Program Level Objectives are covered throughout the program, as well as search for specific curriculum content and objectives using the detailed program curriculum map available here:
Organization and Leadership of the MD Program
Organization and Leadership of the MD Program
The MD Program is a degree granting program (Doctor of Medicine) of the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. All program curriculum and policies are determined by the MD Curriculum and Program Committee (MDCPC).
The MD Program is led by:
Associate Dean, Dr. Darryl Rolfson
Associate Dean, Dr. Richard Martin (NAMP)
Use this link to view other program leaders.
Course coordinators and theme leads for each of the preclerkship courses (see course pages)
Clerkship rotation coordinators for each of the clinical rotations (see clerkship pages)
Student input to how the program is running day to day, as well as input for curriculum content and delivery is very valuable and an essential component of the U of A MD Program.
Student representatives sit on all program committees and can bring your questions, comments, feedback, and suggestions to the table for discussion and action. Reach out to the MSA, IMDSA, and BMSA to share your thoughts.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
The program is divided into preclerkship (year 1 and 2), which focuses on classroom-based teaching and learning, and clerkship (year 3 and 4), which focuses on clinical rotations and experiences.
All preclerkship courses and clerkship rotations have specific course or rotation objectives that are specific to the content areas they cover. However, all components of the MD curriculum link with our overarching program learning objectives, which specify the competencies we expect of our students at graduation.
Our program continues to use the CanMEDS framework for physician competencies to guide our objectives. CanMEDS is a competency framework that defines the major roles expected of all physicians. Through the course of your training, you will experience different types of learning sessions and a diffuse array of content areas meant to prepare you for all of these roles as a future physician.
Preclerkship Curriculum
Preclerkship Curriculum
Over the 2 years of preclerkship, you will complete a total of 11 systems-based courses:
Foundations of Medicine (MED 511)
Metabolism (MED 513*, Pilot in 2025-2026)
Endocrine (MED 513)
Cardiology (MED 515)
Pulmonary (MED 512)
Renal (MED 519)
Gastroenterology and Nutrition (MED 521)
Reproductive Medicine and Urology (MED 522)
Psychiatry (MED 529)
Neurosciences and Special Senses (MED 524)
Musculoskeletal (MED 523)
Oncology (MED 525)
In addition to the systems-based courses, the Longitudinal Themes course runs across the year in both year 1 (MED 516) and year 2 (MED 526). This course includes several components that occur throughout the year:
Communication skills
Physical examination skills
Patient immersion experience (PIE)
Physician discussion groups (PDG)
Longitudinal clinical experience (LCE)
Students in service (SIS)
Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Each academic year includes a 2-week winter holiday break at the end of December/early January, and 1-week break in February for Reading Week.
The academic year concludes at the end of April/beginning of May for Year 1, and at the end of May for Year 2.
Communities of Learning
Communities of Learning
During year 1 and year 2 of the program, students are also invited to participate in several focused Communities of Learning (CoL). These communities are optional experiences, but provide opportunities for interested students to have some structured exposure to these particular areas of interest. Specific time is made available within the weekly schedule for students to participate in CoL activities. Students who are not directly participating can use this time for self-directed learning.
The currently available Communities of Learning (CoL) include the following:
Clerkship Curriculum
Clerkship Curriculum
At the beginning of Year 3, students will complete the Medical Core ("Link Block") component of Longitudinal Themes, which provides practical sessions to prepare you for your clinical rotations in clerkship.
Over the next 2 years, students will be assigned to clinical rotations for practical experience and on-the-job learning.
General Surgery (SURG 546)
Internal Medicine (MED 546)
Pediatrics (PAED 546)
Family Medicine (FMED 546)
Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGY 546)
Psychiatry (PSYCI 546)
Integrated Community Clerkship (MED 543)
Specialty Surgery (SURG 556)
Subspecialty Internal Medicine (MED 556)
Geriatrics (MED 555)
Emergency Medicine (MED 558)
Grande Prairie Rural Program
In addition to the main clinical rotations, the Longitudinal Themes course continues to run across year 3 and 4.
Communication skills
Physician discussion groups (PDG)
Matching to Residency
All Canadian medical students participate in the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) process to match to their residency training programs.
This process begins in Year 4, and supports and details regarding this will be provided throughout your training.
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