Medical School Curriculum
Fourth Year Curriculum
Elective Courses
M4 Clinical Elective: Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
M4 Research Elective: The Scientific Basis of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
Clinical Elective: Complementary
and Alternative Medicine.
The fourth year clinical elective in CAM is designed
to introduce students to the theory and practice
of CAM. Students spend 50% of their time with at
least two family physicians that integrate conventional
and complementary approaches. Didactic course content
includes an introduction to evidence-based medicine,
the current sociopolitical context of CAM usage,
alternative medical systems, nutritional approaches,
bodywork, and herbal medicine. Instructional strategies
include informal lectures, experiential learning,
and small group discussion of assigned readings,
clinical experiences, and a paper case. In the first
week, students are exposed to the various methods
of self-care (meditation, journaling, yoga, Tai-Chi
and Qigong). Students are expected to journal daily
and practice at least one other self-care modality
throughout the month. The elective culminates with
student presentations of an evidence-based review
a CAM modality of their choosing.
Research Elective: The
Scientific Basis of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine.
Michigan has a fourth year research requirement, "Science
in Clinics" in which students select a mentor and
devote a month to scientific activities. The students
select a CAM modality and a specific disease process.
They conduct a review of the relevant scientific
literature. They correlate the evidence in the literature
with the underlying pathophysiology of the disease
process and the proposed clinical use of the CAM
modality. The students draw conclusions about possible
modes of action, potential effectiveness, and the
safety of the investigated therapy. Students present
their work orally at the UMIM monthly Open Research
Meeting and complete a written report of their investigation
in a manner suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed
journal.
