At the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), our 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.
In the first and second years, students will 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 balance ambulatory and inpatient medical education across various settings in Reno, Las Vegas and 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. Each block is designed with clear objectives and includes assessment weeks for clinical skills and comprehensive exams to solidify your understanding.
The curriculum also incorporates longitudinal courses in the “Practice of Medicine” and “Advanced Clinical Skills,” featuring community-based preceptorships and preparing you for clerkships with practical experience. This integrated and dynamic approach ensures that our students are well-prepared for residency and a successful medical career.
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.
Introduces foundational principles of science and medicine while enhancing clinical problem-solving skills, serving as a preparation for subsequent organ/systems-based blocks.
Focuses on building a strong foundation in the basic sciences of the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems, integrating clinical science applications.
Provides comprehensive knowledge of the digestive, endocrine, and reproductive systems, including aspects of nutrition and integrative metabolism.
Offers an integrated understanding of the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems, covering both basic science and clinical perspectives.
Delivers a systematic introduction to neuroscience, the head and neck region, and human behavior through lectures, labs and clinical experiences.
Introduces students to history-taking and physical examination skills, integrating basic science knowledge with ethical principles, professionalism, communication and clinical skills.
Continues the development of history-taking and physical examination skills in a preceptorship setting, including ambulatory care experiences.
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.
Covers the fundamentals of medical microbiology, immunology, and pathology, including microbial chemotherapy, cell and tissue injury, inflammation and repair, hematology and anemia, and an introduction to population-based medicine.
Explores cancers and infectious diseases that impact the whole body, leading to systemic pathologies. Examines the global effects of carcinogens and microbes.
Provides a foundation for understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases related to the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems.
Focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the endocrine, reproductive and digestive systems.
Examines the basic and clinical science relevant to the etiology and treatment of psychiatric and neurological conditions.
Designed for second-year students, this week-long course during the students’ independent study period involves faculty-led workshops preparing students for Step 1. Students review material, work through problems, get their questions answered, and complete practice blocks to assess their understanding.
Offers community-based preceptorships and clinical experiences to strengthen students' history-taking, physical examination and clinical reasoning skills, including ambulatory care experiences.
Combines classroom and small group instruction to facilitate the practice and acquisition of advanced medical clinical skills.
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.
Immerses students in the context of patient care, covering topics such as life stages, community and preventive medicine, reporting procedures for violence, health policy and patient safety. Prepares students for clerkship experiences.
Clinical Reasoning in Medicine is a longitudinal course designed to refine students' diagnostic reasoning, medical decision making and communication skills. Students are assessed with observed structured clinical exams (OSCE).
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.
Electives are taken in Reno, Nevada and at accredited residency programs across the country.
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.