Pathways

Voices of HMS

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Preclerkship Phase

The preclerkship phase of the Pathways curriculum begins with the foundational building blocks of medicine, including:

• fundamentals of anatomy, histology, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, immunology, and introductory pharmacology
• the essential social and population sciences, including health care policy, social medicine, clinical epidemiology and population health, and medical ethics and professionalism
• organ system modules focused on structure, function, and normal and abnormal processes
• longitudinal clinical experiences, integrated with the basic and social science courses, during which students learn communication skills, how to take a physical exam, the dynamics of working in clinical teams and systems, and the process of developing a differential diagnosis

Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) Phase

During the 12 months of the PCE phase, students gain comprehensive clinical training across eight core disciplines:

• internal medicine
• neurology
• obstetrics and gynecology
• pediatrics
• primary care
• psychiatry
• radiology
• surgery

Students are placed at a single hospital site for the year which allows them to be immersed in the clinical learning environment of that institution. As part of each clerkship rotation, PCE Core Faculty provide direct observation, feedback, and longitudinal assessment. The core clerkships are enriched by a longitudinal, multidisciplinary curriculum that integrates ambulatory experiences, faculty mentoring, clinical case conferences, and small group discussions on professional identity formation. Students are given autonomy — alongside faculty support and guidance — to enhance their physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and clinical reasoning. The PCE year emphasizes meaningful roles on the care team, sustained mentorship, strong clinical competence, and effective teamwork.

Post-PCE Phase

The third and final stage of the MD program, the post-PCE phase, offers students the flexibility to customize individual educational pathways according to their interests and future fields of practice. Students pursue a wide variety of clinical electives, engage in scholarly research, and take advantage of unique opportunities at Harvard, across the country, and around the world. Through rigorous coursework, students gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of key medical concepts. A key feature of this phase is the advanced integrated science courses (AISCs), which offer students a choice of course topics ranging from basic to translational and population sciences. Students also use time during this phase to complete the required scholarly project and can draw upon the 12,000+ HMS faculty for mentorship and research opportunities. Above all, the post-PCE phase empowers students to explore their passions in depth while preparing them for their transition to residency.