Didactic Year

The didactic, or classroom, year of the MEDEX curriculum is focused on primary care and designed to teach clinical reasoning skills by building a foundation of new clinical knowledge, and then applying this knowledge to clinical situations.  Summer quarter is a review of basic scientific concepts and introduction to research.  Autumn quarter teaches the basic clinical and technical skills including history taking, physical examinations, and interpreting diagnostic studies. Pathophysiology in autumn quarter adds the foundational information needed for understanding disease processes.  The focus of winter and spring quarters are to establish the foundation of knowledge of clinical medicine including the clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders from all body systems across the lifespan.  By the end of spring quarter, students are able to perform a history and physical exam, identify differential diagnoses, arrive at the most likely diagnosis, and formulate a treatment plan for patient complaints that are commonly seen in primary care.

Teaching methodologies progress throughout the didactic curriculum as students build upon clinical knowledge and develop clinical reasoning skills.  All major body systems are taught once in anatomy and physiology, and repeated again in the basic clinical skills and pathophysiology courses.  In winter and spring, body systems are studied in blocks aligned across the courses so that the content of each course is reinforced in the other courses.  Summer and autumn are fact- and skills-based courses where memorization and repetition are used to create the foundations needed for clinical care. Winter and spring use increasingly interactive methods for learning that include lectures from subject matter experts, small group work, team-based learning, problem-based learning, simulation training, and appreciative inquiry. Faculty members are committed to making class time interesting and engaging while ensuring that all students learn medicine.

Click on the course name in the Didactic Timeline for details and a course description.

Summer Quarter: 17 Credits

Course No.	Name	Credit Hrs.
MEDEX 550   MEDEX 551	Basic Science in Clinical Medicine Anatomy & Physiology	6 6
MEDEX 588	Investigative Skills	5

Autumn Quarter: 18 Credits

Course No.	Name	Credit Hrs.
MEDEX 552	Pathophysiology for Primary Care	6
MEDEX 553	Basic Clinical Skills	5
MEDEX 557	Behavioral Medicine I	2
MEDEX 570	Professional Role Development I	1
MEDEX 573 MEDEX 581	Technical Skills I Capstone I	1 3

Winter Quarter: 20 Credits

Course No.	Name	Credit Hrs.
MEDEX 554	Adult Medicine I	7
MEDEX 556	Maternal & Child Health I	3
MEDEX 558	Behavioral Medicine II	2
MEDEX 560	Principles of Patient Management	3
MEDEX 568	Emergency Medicine I	2
MEDEX 571	Professional Role Development II	1
MEDEX 574 MEDEX 582	Technical Skills II Capstone II	1 1

Spring Quarter: 20 Credits

Course No.	Name	Credit Hrs.
MEDEX 555	Adult Medicine II	7
MEDEX 559	Behavioral Medicine III	2
MEDEX 561	Principles of Patient Management II	3
MEDEX 562	Maternal & Child Health	3
MEDEX 569	Emergency Medicine II	2
MEDEX 572	Professional Role Development III	1
MEDEX 575 MEDEX 583	Technical Skills III Capstone III	1 1

Summer Quarter (online): 10 Credits

Course No.	Name	Credit Hrs.
MEDEX 540 or 541	Focused Study Course	5
MEDEX 585	Capstone V	5

Course Descriptions

Summer Quarter: 17 credits
MEDEX 550: Basic Science in Clinical Medicine – 6 credits
This course is an intensive review of important basic science topics relevant to clinical medicine at the PA level. The material is necessary to the understanding and integration of information that will be presented throughout the remainder of the MEDEX curriculum. Topics include cell biology, genetics, immunology and microbiology.

MEDEX 551: Anatomy & Physiology – 6 credits
Students will review anatomy and physiology with a focus on clinical application of anatomic and physiologic principles encountered in primary care practice. Instruction focuses on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, renal, hematologic, endocrine, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems.

MEDEX 588: Investigative Skills – 5 credits
The ongoing changes to healthcare delivery, continued advances in clinical research and publication, and evolution of the PA profession require that the modern clinician be able to locate, critically appraise, and apply current health research outcomes. This course teaches basic concepts in measurement, biostatistics and epidemiology, and the skills needed to evaluate public health and biomedical research.  Through a series of lectures focused on research concepts, small group exercises, and online group discussions, students will acquire skills allowing them to review and evaluate current research results and apply reliable outcomes to their practice.
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Autumn Quarter: 18 credits
MEDEX 552: Pathophysiology for Primary Care – 6 credits
This course covers basic pathological and pathophysiological concepts of diseases commonly encountered in primary care practice. Pathophysiology is organized and sequenced by organ systems aligned with the Basic Clinical Skills course.

MEDEX 553: Basic Clinical Skills – 5 credits
This course provides instruction to develop competency in clinical skills relevant to primary care including obtaining a comprehensive and problem-focused medical history, performing screening and focused physical examinations, and communication with patients and other members of the healthcare team through the development of oral case presentation skills and documentation of medical care. The course is organized by organ system and aligned with the Pathophysiology course.  

MEDEX 557: Behavioral Medicine I – 2 credits
Students learn process skills and interpersonal skills needed for a career in primary care practice with an emphasis on learning to efficiently guide clinical interviews and respond to patients’ emotional cues. Students will also learn assessment skills for the diagnosis of emotional problems and the management skills used in primary care practice to deal with behavioral medicine problems. Specific topics include managing difficult patients, delivering serious news, issues of aging and elder abuse, trauma and stressor related disorders and trauma informed care, and healthcare for people living homeless.

MEDEX 570: Professional Role Development I – 1 credit
This course provides an opportunity to understand and develop relationships with other health professions; discover emerging issues in primary care across a wide range of urban and rural communities; and explore course topics through self-reflection essays and personal analysis.

MEDEX 573: Technical Skills I – 1 credit
Using lectures, simulation experiences and workshops, this course introduces clinical reasoning, basic clinical procedures, laboratory medicine, radiology, and electrocardiography. Students will demonstrate the ability to assess a patient’s clinical condition using critical thinking skills that evaluate normal and abnormal findings associated with lab results, radiographs, and ECGs. The course includes simulation training, skills workshops, procedural demonstrations and lectures throughout the didactic year.

MEDEX 581: Capstone Project I – 3 credits
Among the requirements for the PA program is a Capstone Project.  Students will be expected to produce a finished product of sufficient depth and analytic rigor to demonstrate the independent thought appropriate to clinical master’s-level work. Students will work on their project over five quarters, beginning in the fall quarter of the didactic year and complete the project as a presentation at the beginning of the clinical year. Students will plan and begin their project with input from faculty advisors.
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Winter Quarter: 20 credits
MEDEX 554: Adult Medicine I – 7 credits
This course provides a problem-oriented approach to the diagnosis and initial management of common primary care conditions. The diseases and condition covered in winter include those from the following organ systems: infectious diseases, hematology, eye-ear-nose-throat, dermatology, orthopedics and rheumatology, and endocrine.

MEDEX 556: Maternal & Child Health I – 3 credits
This course introduces a systems-oriented approach to the diagnosis and initial management of common primary care problems in pediatrics and obstetrics. Topics include an overview of normal pregnancy and delivery in the primary care setting, the neonatal examination, pediatric infectious diseases, ENT disorders, pediatric orthopedics, immunizations, pediatric hematology and oncology, and pediatric cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.
MEDEX 558: Behavioral Medicine II – 2 credits
This course provides in-depth coverage of common emotional problems seen in primary care. Specific topics include depressive disorders, bipolar and related disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatization, personality disorders, paraphilic disorders, an HIV panel discussion, intimate partner violence and the approach to the suicidal patient.

MEDEX 560: Principles of Patient Management I – 3 credits
This course teaches a systematic approach to patient management applicable to a primary care setting. The course is devoted to drug therapy and its administration. The topic sequence of the Patient Management course aligns with conditions taught in Adult Medicine I.

MEDEX 568: Emergency Medicine I – 2 credits
This course provides an approach to the diagnosis and management of common emergency conditions for primary care physician assistants. Topics include initial trauma assessment; multiple trauma to include head, spinal and abdominal trauma, shock, eye-ear-nose-throat and dental emergencies, orthopedic emergencies, toxicology, and psychiatric emergencies.

MEDEX 571: Professional Role Development II – 1 credit
This course emphasizes knowledge, skills and attitudes for dealing with diverse population groups. Students will work in groups, focus on specific health and social parameters that are pertinent to a particular underserved population and make a presentation to their classmates.  Other topics include health care systems, use of medical interpreters and essentials of public health.

MEDEX 574: Technical Skills II – 1 credit
Using lectures and skills workshops, this course introduces clinical reasoning, basic clinical procedures, laboratory medicine, radiology, and electrocardiography. Students will demonstrate the ability to assess a patient’s clinical condition using critical thinking skills that evaluate normal and abnormal findings associated with lab results, radiographs, and ECGs. The course includes skills workshops, procedural demonstrations and lectures throughout the didactic year. Workshops this quarter will include the splinting,  and suturing.

MEDEX 582: Capstone II – 1 credit
Students develop their research question further and develop an outline of their capstone project based on the area of focus. Students should follow JAAPA guidelines for required sections to be included in the outline. Students should continue to work closely with the capstone advisor or course chairs for assistance.

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Spring Quarter: 20 credits
MEDEX 555: Adult Medicine II – 7 credits
This course provides a system-oriented approach to the diagnosis and initial management of common primary care conditions. The organ systems covered in spring include cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, urology, gastroenterology, and neurology.

MEDEX 559: Behavioral Medicine III – 2 credits
This course continues to provide in-depth coverage of common emotional problems seen in primary care. Specific topics include chronic pain, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, social determinants of mental health, eating disorders, sexuality through the life span, and palliative care.

MEDEX 561: Principles of Patient Management II – 3 credits
This course continues building on winter quarter material with a systematic approach to pharmacological therapies and follows the topic sequence of Adult Medicine.  It includes information on drug choice, drug administration and risk factor identification and reduction. Additional foci of the course include non-pharmacological therapies and an emphasis on health education and health promotion strategies.

MEDEX 562: Maternal & Child Health II – 3 credits
This course continues a system-oriented approach to the diagnosis and initial management of common primary care pediatric conditions. Topics include the well child examination including workshop, pediatric health supervision, adolescent medicine and sports physicals, children with special healthcare needs, child abuse and pediatric gastroenterology and neurology. A significant portion of the curriculum covers women’s health topics.

MEDEX 569: Emergency Medicine II – 2 credits
Topics this quarter include cardiovascular and pulmonary emergencies, the acute abdomen, genitourinary and gynecological emergencies, and neurological emergencies.

MEDEX 572: Professional Role Development III – 1 credit
Current issues in healthcare delivery systems will be the focus of this quarter.  Topics include medical ethics, managed care, reimbursement, access and related issues.

MEDEX 575: Technical Skills III – 1 credit
Using lectures, simulation experiences and group exercises, this course introduces clinical reasoning, basic clinical procedures, laboratory medicine, radiology, and electrocardiography. Students will demonstrate the ability to assess a patient’s clinical condition using critical thinking skills that evaluate normal and abnormal findings associated with lab results, radiographs, and ECGs. The course includes simulation workshops, procedural demonstrations and lectures throughout the didactic year. Workshops this quarter will include the genitourinary exam, and casting and splinting.

MEDEX 583: Capstone III – 1 credit
Students continue with their research topic and prepare an annotated bibliography with quantitative and qualitative articles, examine and process the available medical literature about their topic, and work closely with the capstone advisor or course chairs for assistance. 

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Summer Quarter (online): 10 credits
Focused Study Course – 5 credits
The focused study course will follow a small-group seminar format that allows students to select an area of special interest.  The various sections will share a common theme of providing high quality care within healthcare systems, but will diverge in focus and application. Students may select only one subject focus, and the different subject sections run concurrently.
Students will select one of the following options.

• MEDEX 540: Healthcare for Rural and Medically Underserved Populations: This course will examine the nature and severity of disparities in health care access and delivery to rural and urban underserved populations.  Students will be challenged to consider these issues from the perspective of policy-makers as well as from the perspective as clinicians.
• MEDEX 541: Public Health and Preventive Medicine:  This course will explore the principles, systems and practices of public health and preventive medicine at the local, state and national levels.  Students should recognize the breadth of health professions and how the interdisciplinary teams in which they work provide the structure for public health and preventive medicine at all levels of health care.

MEDEX 585: Capstone V – 5 credits
Students focus on the final capstone project, which is the major graduate level product for this course sequence.  Students will submit their Poster or a JAAPA style article, actual submission for publication optional.  Students will also submit their presentation product that will be utilized during the presentation of their project during fall transition week. 

Autumn Quarter:
MEDEX 584 Capstone IV – 1 Credit
Students begin the clinical phase of the program. Early in fall quarter, students will present the capstone project in either oral presentation or poster session format.