M.D. Program Curriculum

Integrating biomedical science with clinical practice

At the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), our four-year M.D. program curriculum is designed to integrate biomedical science with clinical practice through a systems-based block format. From early on, students will engage in clinical training to develop key skills such as patient interviewing, doctor-patient relationships and physical examination and develop their understanding of how to address health care needs for patients and their communities.

Explore the Medical Education Program Objectives

What will I learn as a medical student?

In the first and second years, students will learn in the classroom and work closely with community physicians in outpatient settings, gaining practical experience and exploring research opportunities in both biomedical and clinical sciences. This hands-on approach continues into the third and fourth years, where students will be part of ambulatory and inpatient medical teams across various settings including rural Nevada.

Our Foundations curriculum uses a "Case of the Week" approach to connect scientific concepts with real-world clinical contexts, reducing lecture hours and focusing on strategies for lifelong learning. The curriculum also incorporates longitudinal courses including the "Practice of Medicine," "Advanced Clinical Skills," and "Clinical Reasoning in Medicine." This integrated and dynamic approach ensures that our students are well-prepared for residency and a successful medical career.

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Year 1 Structure - Blocks

The Year 1 curricular structure includes 40 weeks of instruction. The five blocks for Year 1 include cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive, musculoskeletal, integumentary, human behavior and the nervous system. The “Practice of Medicine” runs concurrently with the blocks for both fall and spring, which includes ambulatory care experiences.

Year 2 Structure - Blocks

The Year 2 curricular structure includes 31 weeks of instruction. The five blocks for Year 2 include the whole body, the nervous system, human behavior, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine and reproductive systems. The practice of medicine runs concurrently with the blocks for the both fall (which includes ambulatory care experiences) and the spring.

Year 3 Structure - Clerkships

Clerkships mark the transition to the predominantly clinical component of the medical education program. Students are immersed in clinical experiences and clinical reasoning practice throughout the community and surrounding areas. Students work full-time at a designated site during each four- to twelve-week rotation period and are at times assigned on-call duty on scheduled nights and weekends. 

Note: Students must take and pass Steps 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) to graduate. A passing score on Step 1 is required before advancing to the third year, and passing Step 2 is necessary for graduation. 

Year 4 Structure – Clinical Electives

Students complete a minimum of 32 weeks of electives in addition to a required four-week advanced clinical rotation in rural health. Students are encouraged to complete a well-rounded clinical schedule, augmented by non-clinical credits in research or other areas of interest.

Explore our clinical electives

Electives are taken in Reno, Nevada and at accredited residency programs across the country.

Rural rotation

Our required rural rotation emphasizes the importance of health care in small, rural and frontier communities. This part of our curriculum allows students to experience clinical immersion in these settings, where they tackle complex medical issues with limited resources. Over a four-week period, students live and work alongside their preceptors, gaining firsthand insight into the realities of rural health care. This rotation enhances clinical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding of community health challenges, while also providing opportunities for interprofessional learning and in-depth exploration of health disparities.

Co-Curricular Activities: Summer Preceptorships and Observerships

Student observership experiences

The primary purpose of observership is to observe a physician or health care provider performing his or her duties. This excludes the student from engaging in any activity, physically or verbally, that may be considered the practice of medicine. The following outlines the guidelines for UNR Med students regarding observership experiences:

  • Observership experiences are prohibited for first and second year medical students during the academic year.
    • Exception: Students will be permitted to participate in observership experiences during non-curricular times (winter, spring or summer break), but only with prior approval from UNR Med. See “How to Seek Approval for Observerships,” below.
  • Observership is an activity outside the UNR Med curriculum, therefore the liability policy (malpractice insurance) may not cover students who engage in observership activities.
  • During the third year, any clinical activities must be approved by the applicable clerkship director and must align with the goals and objectives of the applicable clerkship.
  • All clinical activities in the fourth year must be part of a UNR Med approved course/elective and must be included on the student's fourth year schedule.

How to seek approval for non-curricular observerships and summer preceptorships

Students must make any requests for approval a minimum of two months prior to the start of any proposed observership or non-curricular summer preceptorship experience. Only medical students in good standing (not on probation) will be permitted to participate in non-curricular observership experiences. The form is online at this link.

For students wanting to participate in observerships or non-curricular summer preceptorship in Step 1 Dedicated, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Be in good academic standing at the start of Dedicated, with no Block remediations.
  • Set your Step 1 date and write Step 1 before you can proceed to observerships or non-curricular summer preceptorship. If you move your Step 1 date, you must let Student Affairs and Curricular Affairs know. Your observership may or may not be rescheduled, at the discretion of the Associate Deans of Student Affairs and Curricular Affairs.
  • Submit your forms two months prior to the date(s) that you are seeking. These two months provide the necessary time to seek availability for the observership or non-curricular summer preceptorship.