Phases & Educational Competencies

Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s M.D. curriculum prepares students to become well-rounded physicians who serve as healers, scientists, advocates, educators, colleagues, role models, and life-long learners. As an M.D. student at Einstein, you develop skills in each of these competencies as you progress through the preclerkship phase and the clinical phase of our curriculum.

Educational Program Objectives

During your training as an M.D. student at Einstein, you demonstrate aptitude and develop proficiency in the following educational competencies.

Physician as Healer

To achieve proficiency in the physician as healer competency, students at Einstein must demonstrate effective clinical, diagnostic, and communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and empathy, and that you are able to work in partnership with your patients to meet their individual needs. Professional development in this area requires becoming comfortable with uncertainty and cultivating humility, both cultural and structural.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as healer competency, students must be able to:
Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking.
Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through physical examination.
Gather and analyze information about patients and their conditions through medical chart review, laboratory findings, and results of imaging and other studies. Recognize and respond effectively to patients’ verbal, non-verbal, and contextual cues.
Use and articulate a systematic approach to clinical diagnosis; initiate and adjust an appropriate diagnostic plan.
Use and articulate a systematic approach to create an evidence-based management/treatment plan.
Develop a patient-centered plan that incorporates a patient’s unique personal circumstances (e.g., health beliefs, economics, disability, culture, faith, spirituality) and addresses the impact of structural factors (e.g., racism, social determinants, social history, public policy) on health outcomes.
Demonstrate empathy and build trust to provide comfort and support to patients and, when applicable, their families, caregivers, and/or surrogate decision makers.

Physician as Scientist

To achieve proficiency in the physician as scientist competency, students acquire, appraise, and apply knowledge of biomedical, clinical, psychosocial, epidemiological, and population health sciences as the foundation for all endeavors. To be a physician scientist means to understand the critical role of research to enhance the health of individuals and populations. By participating in scholarly investigation that involves patients of all races, ethnicities, biological sex, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds, you work to advance scientific knowledge and improve health and healthcare.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as scientist competency, students must be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of the range of normal structures and functions of the body and its organ systems, and the underlying molecular, genetic, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms of homeostasis.
Demonstrate knowledge of congenital and acquired causes of disease, dysfunction, and disability, and the underlying pathophysiology.
Recognize that race is a social, not biological, construct and that racism, rather than race, causes both individual and population-level health disparities.
Analyze the impact of behavioral, social, and structural factors (e.g., racism, racial inequity, poverty, environment, nutrition, public policy) on the health status of diverse patient populations, recognizing the impact of historical oppression and exploitation.
Apply knowledge of science and the scientific method to characterize the quality of evidence, and critically evaluate scientific and medical literature.
Analyze how scientific and medical discoveries can be translated and applied to improve the health of individuals and diverse populations, including local and underserved communities.

Physician as Advocate

Through knowledge of the health care system, skill development, hands-on service, and leadership experiences, students achieve proficiency in the physician as advocate competency, demonstrating the knowledge and skills to advocate for healthcare that is high-quality, safe, efficient, just, and equitable for individual patients and diverse populations, especially those who are marginalized, oppressed, or underserved. Students recognize the need for continued efforts toward greater social and racial justice in the healthcare system.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as advocate competency, students must be able to:
Analyze present, and when applicable, past, health care policies, economics, and financing and discuss their implications on individual patients, communities, and populations, recognizing the ways these policies have adversely affected the health of marginalized communities.
Advocate for the broad range of their patients’ healthcare needs, including those stemming from social and structural determinants of health.
Apply knowledge of the principles of patient safety, quality improvement, and systems science to ensure quality care for all patients.
Identify and partner with relevant stakeholders within communities to understand their healthcare needs and how to best serve those needs, utilizing effective communication strategies.

Physician as Educator

Students apply educational principles to facilitate effective learning and promote well-being among patients, families, and communities to achieve proficiency in the physician as educator competency. Students demonstrate the ability to effectively teach their peers, colleagues, and other health professionals in clinical practice, basic science, and translational medicine.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as educator competency, students must be able to:
Employ appropriate methods, including patient-centered and culturally responsive communication skills and techniques, to educate patients, and when applicable, families, caregivers, and/or other surrogate decision-makers to adopt and sustain healthy behaviors.
Contribute to a supportive, inclusive, and stimulating learning environment.
Utilize effective teaching techniques, including professional presentation skills, tailored to the number and type of learners, the setting and context, and the educational objectives.
Provide effective and constructive feedback to learners, peers, colleagues, and teachers.

Physician as Colleague

Students work collaboratively as members of medical, scientific, and educational communities to achieve proficiency in the physician as colleague competency.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as colleague competency, students must be able to:
Demonstrate a recognition of, and respect for, the roles and contributions of the various members of the interdisciplinary and/or interprofessional health care team.
Demonstrate the interpersonal and leadership skills to work collaboratively and inclusively with individuals and teams across classroom, clinical, community, and/or research settings.
Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
Consider and acknowledge diverse perspectives in appraising alternative approaches to problem-solving and collaborative decision-making.

Physician as Role Model

Students act in accordance with the highest levels of ethics and professionalism in all realms, including clinical care, research endeavors, advocacy, education, and general behavior as a member of society to achieve proficiency in the physician as role model competency. Students serve as role models for individual patients, colleagues, and society at large, as well as demonstrate dedication to their personal and professional development through ongoing self-care, self-awareness, and self-reflection that sustains their commitment to core humanistic principles and service.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as role model competency, students must be able to:
Consistently attend required educational activities, notifying the appropriate supervisor if you are unable to attend.
Consistently complete instructor and course, clerkship, and acting internship evaluations to aid in the improvement of the educational program at Einstein.
Treat all patients, colleagues, and community members equitably and respectfully no matter how they self-identify or how others may perceive them (e.g., age, race, ethnicity, country of origin, disabilities, sexual and gender identification, religion, political perspective, economic background, physical appearance, or legal status).
Apply ethical principles in all aspects of patient care, research, and education.

Physician as Life-Long Learner

Students recognize that scientific knowledge continually advances and that the methodologies, modalities, and technologies available to learners are ever-changing to achieve proficiency in the physician as life-long learner competency. You learn to critically assess new research and clinical innovations, as well as apply evidence-based and structurally competent recommendations. Effective lifelong learning requires you to engage in ongoing self-assessment and receive comprehensive feedback from external sources to identify personal knowledge gaps and maintain an enduring commitment to best practices.

To demonstrate aptitude in the physician as life-long learner competency, students must be able to:
Identify gaps in understanding, knowledge, clinical skills, and/or reasoning.
Conduct a literature search, review available evidence, and apply new knowledge, skills, and reasoning to patient care and/or research.
Identify and correct gaps in knowledge, skills, and performance through self-reflection and feedback from others.
Identify professional interests, strengths, options, and opportunities to guide career planning and development.