Flexible Professional Experiences (FPE)

This course aligns with the Vista curriculum and aims to provide students with early opportunities for individual exploration in various clinical and translational science fields. The curriculum of the course is designed to be self-directed, allowing students to choose from a diverse range of pre-designed experiences or create their own week-long experiences. The benefits of early exposure to a medical specialty include the chance to form mentorships, cultivate and develop interest in the specialty, gain intrinsic motivation for further learning in chosen fields, and explore potential career paths.

This multidisciplinary learning program follows a set of broad guidelines, and the methods of learning vary depending on the chosen experience. The emphasis is placed on one-on-one interaction between the student and the teacher. The criteria for granting credit are specific to each experience and are based on minimum performance standards set by the sponsoring departments.

By completing the Flexible Professional Experiences course, learners will have the opportunity to:

Explore and develop their careers.
Gain exposure to emerging and cutting-edge branches of medicine.
Collaborate with recognized experts in various fields of medicine and allied sciences.
Gain exposure to novel concepts or care systems that are not typically encountered in the core clinical experience.
Design innovative experiences within the course guidelines.
The course utilizes various methods to provide a comprehensive learning experience. These methods involve working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, under the supervision of physicians. Students are required to deliver case presentations, both orally and in written form, and receive education on specialized testing procedures relevant to the specialty. It is mandatory for students to attend lectures and seminars that are specifically related to their experience.

To receive credit for conference attendance, students must submit a copy of their paper or oral presentation, along with a conference schedule indicating their attendance at relevant sessions.

Self-directed learning plays a crucial role in this course. For experiences designed by the students themselves, the sponsor must identify the objectives of the experiences, briefly explain how these objectives will be achieved, and outline the competencies addressed by the experience. Additional methods employed may include journal keeping for international experiences, community health and service experiences, or project reports for research experiences.

Student assessment methods are tailored to each specific experience and are used to determine whether credit will be granted or not. Optional narrative feedback may be provided in the form of a Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE). The criteria for granting credit include attendance, effort, and the achievement of minimum performance standards established by the sponsoring department. Each student will receive a summative evaluation from the sponsoring faculty or individual, and formative feedback is expected from all members of the sponsoring team as well as the student.

OCT 30 2023 | cjb