PCM1 is a 21-credit course taught over 18 weeks in Term 4 of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program of St George's University School of Medicine, Grenada. It is a systemsbased curriculum for the second academic year of the Basic Sciences program and is taught in four consecutive modules:
- Foundation to Clinical Medicine (4 weeks)
- Cardiovascular and Renal Systems (4 weeks)
- Respiratory and Hematopoietic Systems (4 weeks)
- Digestive, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems (6 weeks).
TOTAL: 18 Weeks
Foundation to Clinical Medicine Module (FTCM):
During this module students are introduced to the four disciplines through general principles. They learn about the basic principles of integrated patient and cliniciancentered medical interviewing, physical examination and formulation of SOAP notes; the general principles of pathology including cellular injury and inflammation, neoplasia and hemodynamic disorders. They also learn about the basic principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drugs affecting the autonomic system and pharmacology of pain. The module concludes with the study of skin, muscle and bone infections and skin pathology.
Cardiovascular and Renal Systems Module (CRS):
This module introduces the student to study of systemic diseases, utilizing the principles gained in the FTCM Module and their knowledge of normal anatomy, physiology and biochemistry from BPM1, 2 and 3. The module starts off with the Cardiovascular System wherein students learn about the cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular infections and the drugs that are used to treat cardiovascular diseases. This is integrated with learning about a hypothesis-driven approach for a patient presenting with a cardiovascular and peripheral vascular complaint and performing a comprehensive physical examination of the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems. The next block is the Renal System where they learn about the renal diseases, urinary tract infections and conclude the module with pharmacogenetics and drugs used for coagulation.
Respiratory and Hematopoietic Systems Module (RHS):
During this module students' study about the Respiratory System wherein they learn about the pulmonary diseases, respiratory tract infections and the drugs that are used to treat some respiratory and mycobacterial diseases. They also integrate this with a hypothesis-driven approach for a patient presenting with a respiratory, head, eye, ear, neck and throat complaints and performing a comprehensive physical examination of these systems. The next block is the Hematopoietic System where they learn about the red and white blood cell disorders, this block is interspersed with teaching of anticancer pharmacotherapy. We conclude the module by learning about the blood and lymphatic infections and the drugs used to treat malarial infection.
Digestive, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems Module (DERS):
During this module teaching commences with the Digestive System wherein students will study gastrointestinal diseases, infections, and the drugs used to treat some gastrointestinal diseases. They will also learn about a hypothesis-driven approach for a patient presenting with an abdominal complaint and performing a comprehensive physical examination of this system. The following block will take them through Endocrine Pathology, where they learn about the disorders affecting endocrine glands; this block also incorporates the teaching of pharmacotherapy of endocrinological conditions. We conclude the module by learning about diseases of the male and female reproductive systems, sexually transmitted infections, and the drugs acting on the uterus and contraceptives. Students will also learn to incorporate focused history and examination of patients with complaints about the endocrinological and reproductive system pathologies.