PRE-CLINICAL PHASE

(1.6 years)

This phase, presented in the School of Medicine Cook Islands and New Zealand Campus. This phase includes:

• General Principle Courses
• 9 Organ System
• Pre - Clinical Examination (PCE)
• Approved Research Thesis Proposal

Students must have their research prospectus approved by the Director of Research and presented at the Research Club before they may begin the Transition Phase.

TRANSITION PHASE

(6 Months)

This phase is intended to prepare students for a successful transition to clinical rotations and includes:

• Clinical Transition units
• Clinical Skills Course (CSC)

CLINICAL PHASE

(~2 Years)

This phase includes:

• Core Clinical Rotations (48 weeks)
• Elective Rotations (32 weeks)
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• Final Clinical Exam (FCE)
• Research Methodology and Published Research Thesis
• General Principles Course
• 9 Organ Systems
• Pre-Clinical Exam (PCE)
• Approved Research Proposal

NOTE

After completion of Pre-Clinical Years/Phase United States and Canadian Students are to take the USMLE & MCCQE Steps - I Respectively. After completion of the Clinical Years/Phase they are also required to take Step - II of the above listed Licensing Examinations, as a criteria to qualify for graduation from Medical School, and to enter Residency training in United States and Canada Respectively.

The Pre-Clinical Phase includes:

• General Principles Course
• 9 Organ Systems
• Pre-Clinical Exam (PCE)
• Approved Research Proposal

GENERAL PRINCIPLES COURSE

The 8-week General Principles Course, following Orientation, provides introductions to a number of Basic sciences, including Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology, Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology.

ORGAN SYSTEMS

In 9 Organ Systems, students build on the foundational knowledge gained during the General Principles Course. As students progress through each Organ System, they develop and improve clinical reasoning skills and apply their knowledge to medical scenarios depicting unique, as well as common, human conditions and ailments. Basic sciences are integrated throughout the units, providing students with material that combines the basic and clinical sciences in a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) case format.

• Cardiovascular
• Urinary
• Pulmonary
• Endocrine
• Neuroscience
• Heme-Immune
• Reproduction
• Gastrointestinal
• Musculoskeletal

JOURNAL CLUB

Once in practice, doctors must be able to read and understand the implications and possible role in patient care of information found in medical journals. JCSM pre-clinical students must participate in Journal Club meetings, which involve the presentation of a peer-reviewed article, followed by faculty-led discussion. Students must present at least once during Organ Systems and attend a minimum of 50 sessions during the pre-clinical years.

The Transition Phase includes:

CLINICAL TRANSITION UNITS

Clinical Skills Course (CSC)

This phase is intended to prepare students for a successful transition to clinical rotations. Students begin Clinical Transition Units after passing the PCE, and the phase concludes with the CSC. 

The Clinical Transition Units emphasize integrating clinical skills and knowledge, including the interpretation of lab data and the formulation of clinical hypotheses and differential diagnosis, by incorporating previously acquired knowledge in the Organ Systems.

The Clinical Phase includes:

• Clinical Core Rotations (48 weeks)
• Clinical Elective Rotations (30 weeks)
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• Final Clinical Exam (FCE)
• Research Methodology and Published Research Project 

CLINICAL ROTATIONS

The clinical curriculum consists of 78 weeks of core and elective clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals or clinics.

CORE ROTATIONS

The core clinical rotations take 48 weeks to complete and their durations are:

Community/Family Medicine (6 weeks)

Internal Medicine (12 weeks)

Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)

Paediatrics (6 weeks)

Psychiatry (6 weeks)

Surgery (12 weeks)

ELECTIVE ROTATIONS

Students complete 30 weeks of elective rotations, all 6 weeks in duration. Compulsory electives are

Neurology (6 weeks)

Emergency Medicine (6 weeks) 

RESEARCH THESIS/PROJECT

Completing a research thesis/project, including the writing of a manuscript accepted for publication, is a graduation requirement. Several resources are available to assist students in preparing for and completing their project including the Research Methodology Unit, Research Advisors, Research Club, Journal Club, Library, and the Research Committee.

FINAL CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS

Once the core and elective rotations are completed, the knowledge/skills-based Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) — required by regulatory agencies worldwide — complete the Clinical Phase of the MD degree program and meet JCSM’s graduation requirements for all students.

The James Cook School of Medicine exceptional Doctor of Medicine program has double entry points.

We offer a traditional four-year graduate entry MD program for students entering with a bachelor’s degree, as well as a Pre-medicine program that lead into our four-year med school program.

The mission of the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program is to prepare a diverse student body to pursue a spectrum of medical career options in order to become physician leaders who can advance biomedical research and improve local, national, and global health.

This is accomplished in part, through an innovative curriculum in which students learn the core basic sciences in the first 2 years complete core clinical clerkships in the Third year, and fulfill elective rotations in the fourth year. 

By condensing the traditionally structured training , students are provided ample opportunity to pursue their own independent interests.

APPLY NOW

The 6-Year MD Course is mainly an entry point for High school leavers into the MD Program.

This course consists of an initial 24-months Pre-medical studies, which enables Pre-meds to attain the necessary credit before the actual MD program.

For 24 months in Pre-medicine students are going to cover major Basic Sciences areas, Psychology, Sociology, English Studies, Medical ethics, Medical Terminology etc which amounts to 90 Credit hours.

These prepare them to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Major areas in Pre-medicine studies includes :

• Human Anatomy 
• Embryology
• Medical Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Philosophy
• Cell Biology
• Genetics Evolution & Development
• Physics
• Chemistry
• English Methods Writing & Communication Skills 
• Mathematics
• Statistical Methods
• Calculus
• Medical Terminology
• Sociology
• Medical Ethics
• Pathophysiology
• Histology

On Successful Completion of these within the 24 Calendar Month, Students are promoted to the MD Program.

APPLY NOW

The MD/PhD program is designed to produce Physicians and academic clinician scientists with advanced clinical and research skills who are interested in a career that combines both research and clinical medicine.

The MD/PhD program is for students currently enrolled in medicine who then pursue graduate studies in Surgery, Clinical Medicine, Biomedicine, Clinical Anatomy or Public Health(Epidemiology) at the end of their second year or for current graduate students who are conducting health-related research.

The MD component develops the skills necessary for a career in the practice of medicine. 

The PhD component develops research skills and provides dyvh experience required for biomedical research

There are two pathways to enter the MD/PhD program. The traditional pathway is where medical students pursue a PhD in a health-related field during a sabbatical from the MD program after year 2 of medicine and before year 3 of medicine (i.e., clerkship). The second pathway to enter the MD/PhD program is where current graduate students in a health-related field get accepted into the MD program during their graduate program. 

Traditionally, trainees first complete the first two years of the undergraduate MD program, providing a broad background in medicine and biology. They then take a funded sabbatical from their MD studies to carry out a health research-based PhD in Surgery, Clinical Medicine, Biomedicine, Clinical Anatomy or Public Health(Epidemiology).

This can be conducted in any department at JCSM that offers a PhD program, as long as the project is health-related.  

When all experimental work has been completed and a completed doctoral thesis has been submitted, trainees resume medical studies at third year MD training. Students must provide ample notice to the Associate Dean of JCSM and the Clerkship administrators about their intent to reenter clerkship. 

It is strongly encouraged that students fully complete their graduate degree (i.e., submission of doctoral thesis and completed defense) prior to reentering medicine.

APPLY NOW

The James Cook School of Medicine MD/MPH program is unique in several ways. 

Our program integrates significant components of the MPH coursework into the MD curriculum which allow students run the program during their Elective rotation year in Medical School, and Graduate with a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degrees simultaneously. 

The program is designed to provide graduates with the clinical and research skills required to approach health problems from a population and prevention perspective by integrating the roles of the biological sciences and clinical practice into the broader sets of knowledge and practices used in public health.

We will graduate physicians who are provided the academic knowledge and skills, as well as the clinical experience to improve the health of all populations, especially those most vulnerable and underserved.

Only Students that registered for the MD/MPH course will be awarded the dual degrees upon graduation.

APPLY NOW

The 6-Year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Bachelor Clinical Science (B.Clin.Sc.) course is a high school entry program. 

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Clinical Science (B.Clin.sc.) program (3 Years) students proceed directly to the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program (4 Years). 

The 3rd year of the B.Clin.Sc. Program, overlaps with the 1st year of the Medical School coursework making it possible for students to take both simultaneously. Students get conferred with their BClinSc. Degree after first year of Medical School, and their M.D. degree three years after.

Students enrolled for this program, have opportunity of obtaining both degrees simultaneously upon completion of both programs. 

The 6-Year B.Clin.sc./M.D. degrees program is very competitive with limited seats of 10 intakes per annum, hence admission is strictly based on merit only. Students have to perform excellenty well (Above average) in the MCAT, GAMSAT or JCSMMSAT to book an admission seat.

APPLY NOW

The 7-Year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) course is a high school entry program. 

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science program (3 Years) in either Clinical Anatomy, Medical Physiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Physician Assistantship Study or Neuroscience, students proceed directly to the Doctor of Medicine program (4 Years) 

Students enrolled for this program, have opportunity of obtaining both degrees simultaneously upon completion of both programs.

APPLY NOW