Office of Education

Transition to Clinical Setting (TCS)

Sarah Karl, PhD

Course Director

Email:    karl@umdnj.edu

Course Description

NJMS students are being prepared for their eventual transition to the clinical setting throughout their pre-clerkship experiences, but during the second year this preparation for clerkships becomes more focused.  Students cannot proceed to the clinical rotations until they complete certain certain requirements of the second year in addition to traditional course work.  A key requirement is the preparation and passage of the first step of the U.S. Medical licensing examination. Study for this exam requires more than knowledge of facts, considerable thought that may be.   Preparation for Step 1 requires considerable integration of previously-learned material and as well as demonstration of the ability to apply knowledge in a problem solving process as a key element of clinical problem-solving. Preparation for this examination also entails a honing important organizational and self-assessment skills and addressing any relative weaknesses in long term retention and/or testing. Transition to Clinical Setting (TCS) is designed to provide intense mentoring to hone these skills for the Step 1 of the Licensing Process and as preparation for the transition to the clinical rotations. 

During the second year students attend a series of workshops relevant to this transition year. In the spring all students are undergo a comprehensive examination covering the full curriculum of basic science material of the pre-clerkship curriculum.  Each student receives a score and a profile of the results, which is then reviewed in an individual conference with the TCS faculty member. The aim of this process is to guide the student’s self-scrutiny of the his/her long term retention profile, clarify strengths and weaknesses in knowledge base and address the learning style needed to address weaker areas going forward in the independent study period.  The student formulates a detailed study plan which includes ongoing self-assessment; this is also reviewed and discussed in the mentor-student conference.  Adherence to the individual’s self-developed study program is expected to culminates in successful completion of the USMLE Step 1.  Finally, completion of TCS occurs with mandatory attendance at the Transition Week program, scheduled the week prior to the start of the student’s first clinical rotation.  During this week students are oriented to the basic skills and standards of professionalism expected in the clinical years.

Course Requirements

- Attend sessions which train students in formulating independent study goals and selecting the best methods for learning different types of biomedical information

- Take a comprehensive basic science examination which profiles their long term retention of material from the first 2 years of medical school;

- Review individual results of this exam one-on-one with their TCS faculty mentor

- Formulate a customized study plans to follow during USMLE Step 1 period.  Such plans addresses the need for high professional skills in organization, time management, long term retention, problem-solving, test-taking, self-assessment and application of basic science material to clinical vignettes.

-Participate fully in the week preparatory for Clinical Clerkships, known as Transition Week or T2, which orients the student to skills necessary to be successful in the clinical clerkships.

This is a pass/fail course that is mandatory for second year students