About Curriculum

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine's greatest strengths lie in our small class size which allows for personal attention and early sustained clinical experience beginning on the first day of medical school.

Beginning with the entering Class of 2016, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine made a change from a discipline-based year 1 & 2 curricular structure to an integrated, systems-based block curriculum. The reform process was unique in that it was faculty driven with leadership from the Office of Medical Education. See the curricular guidelines generated during the change process.

Year 3 features the standard clerkships and a longitudinal Clinical Reasoning in Medicine course.

Year 4 requires an Advanced Clinical Experience in Rural Health which speaks to the health care needs of Nevada’s smaller communities and introduces our students to practicing medicine with limited resources and geographic challenges. Currently, students take a total of 32 weeks of electives.

Our Practice of Medicine blocks run longitudinally across both Years 1 & 2 and include community-based Preceptorships in both academic years. Faculty curricular development efforts center on small group activities including:

• progressive disclosure weekly cases,
• team-based learning sessions,
• workshops presented by students,
• and evidence-based medicine activities and clinical sessions focused on ethics and behavioral science.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s MS4 students have long been a cornerstone of the afternoon Practice of Medicine Blocks through their leadership of the small groups for clinical skills training sessions.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine offers opportunities for added distinction for our students through the Scholarly Concentrations and dual degrees programs. The Scholarly Concentrations with their added research opportunities are voluntary. The dual degrees are available through the Reno campus at this time.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine maintains simulation centers at both the Reno and Las Vegas campuses. Students can interact with standardized patients, human patient simulators, and task trainers for specific procedural skills.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Office of Faculty Development has been instrumental in providing training in new teaching and assessment methodologies.

The Office of Faculty Development:Faculty Resources information page contains links often requested of the Office of Medical Education.