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Georgetown University School of Medicine

Georgetown University School of Medicine

The cupola atop the School of Medicine building
The School of Medicine is heir to the Jesuit traditions of care of the sick and commitment to service and social justice. It embodies the university’s dedication to the pursuit of knowledge in service of the community.
The Georgetown medical experience is centered in cura personalis — care for a person’s psychological, spiritual, social well-being in addition to their physical well-being. It lays the groundwork for the intellectual and ethical formation of physician-healers committed to the clinically competent care and well-being of their patients and dedicated to the health needs of the underserved in our society.
The result is a community of scholars and healers who are challenged to achieve their personal potential; dedicated to healing the individual patient; committed to serving the healthcare needs of the community and advocating for those who have no voice in our society.
The Med-Dent building framed by trees in the foreground

Georgetown University School of Medicine Mission Statement

Guided by the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care of the whole person, Georgetown University School of Medicine will educate a diverse student body, in an integrated way, to become knowledgeable, ethical, skillful and compassionate physicians and biomedical scientists who are dedicated to the care of others and health needs of our society.

Georgetown University School of Medicine Diversity Statement

The University was founded on the principle that serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs promotes intellectual, ethical and spiritual understanding. Consistent with this principle, the School of Medicine strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of diversity in a learning environment that understands and includes the varied health care needs and growing diversity of the populations we serve.

Two students study

Academic Calendar Dates for AY 2021-22 (All Classes)

Academic Calendar Dates for AY 2022-23 (All Classes)

In January 2016, Georgetown University School of Medicine faculty met and confirmed that all graduates from the Undergraduate School of Medicine would meet nineteen competencies within three domains: Knowledge, Skill, and Values and attitudes. All modules, courses, and clerkships contribute to the attainment of these important objectives.

Georgetown University School of Medicine Mission Statement

Guided by the Jesuit tradition of Cura Personalis, care of the whole person, Georgetown University School of Medicine will educate a diverse student body, in an integrated way, to become knowledgeable, ethical, skillful, and compassionate physicians and biomedical scientists who are dedicated to the care of others and health needs of our society.

Graduates of Georgetown University School of Medicine will demonstrate the following competencies:

Knowledge-Related Competencies

  1. Acquire, integrate, and apply knowledge of biomedical science to the care of patients.
  2. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a commitment to learning, critically evaluate new knowledge and determine its relevance to the clinical problems of individual patients.
  3. Apply principles of epidemiological sciences to implement strategies to prevent disease and promote the health of patients and populations.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological, socioeconomic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of human health and illness.
  5. Evaluate the current health care system and identify strategies to improve the organization, financing and delivery of safe and effective health care.

Skill-Related Competencies

  1. Obtain and perform a complete, systematic, patient centered, history and physical examination integrating the scientific foundations of medicine with clinical reasoning skills.
  2. Integrate patient data to formulate an accurate assessment and develop a prioritized differential diagnosis, and recognize a patient who requires urgent evaluation and treatment.
  3. Form clinical questions, identify and evaluate appropriate information resources, and apply evidence-based principles for the benefit of individual patients.
  4. Select and interpret common diagnostic and screening tests, integrate and apply the results in the process of clinical problem solving and in developing and managing a safe and cost-effective treatment plan.
  5. Perform general clinical procedures required to provide basic patient care and inform the patient of the risks and benefits of tests and procedures.
  6. Present an accurate assessment of a patient encounter and document the encounter in the patient record to achieve a shared understanding of the patient’s condition with members of the health care team, patients and families.
  7. Participate as a contributing and integrated member of an interprofessional team and practice effective communication to assure safe transition of patient care.
  8. Effectively communicate with patients, their family members and caregivers and encourage them to engage in their own care, with sensitivity to patient diversity, community health influences and values.
  9. Educate patients, colleagues, and the community.
  10. Identify and report system failure and contribute to a culture of patient safety and quality improvement.
  11. Demonstrate independent learning and critically assess the limits of one’s knowledge, skills, and values, using a reflective process in the journey of professional identity formation.

Values and Attitudes-Related Competencies

  1. Appreciate the clinical virtues and ethical dimensions of the patient-physician relationship by demonstrating integrity, excellence in care, accountability, trust, respect, compassion and humility.
  2. Demonstrate altruism through a commitment of service to the profession and society and advocate for all, especially the vulnerable and disenfranchised.
  3. Maintain personal well-being while balancing the demands of a professional work ethic and commitment to self.
Source: https://som.georgetown.edu/