Phase 3 Curriculum / Post-Clerkship

The goal of the Phase 3/ Post-Clerkship fourth year of medical school is to solidify clinical competence, complete career preparation, foster personal growth, and prepare for transition from medical student to resident physician. 

Objectives of Phase 3:

1. Refine Clinical Skills
• Apply advanced diagnostic reasoning, management, and communication skills in real-world settings.
• Function more independently with greater clinical responsibility
2. Prepare for Residency
• Explore specialties through electives and away rotations.
• Opportunity to finalize career path
3. Demonstrate Readiness for Internship
• Prepare for transition from student to resident physician.
• Develop professionalism, time management, and team communication.
4. Grow Personally and Professionally
• Reflect back on your journey and ahead to new roles.
• Gain exposure beyond chosen specialty to broaden and balance the overall educational experience.

Requirements for Class of 2026 and 2027

Students must complete a total of 32 weeks of credit during their fourth year. 

• A total of 4 weeks of Internal Medicine Acting Internship
• A total of 4 weeks of a Specialty Acting Internship
• A total of 12 weeks of Intensive Clinical Experience 
• A total of 12 weeks of General Electives
• An additional 20 weeks is considered unscheduled or flex time, which is time to be used for interviews, vacations, or other personal use.

Requirements for Class of 2028 and beyond

Students must complete a total of 36 weeks of credit during their fourth year. 

• A total of 4 weeks of Internal Medicine Acting Internship
• A total of 4 weeks of an Acute Care Experience
• A total of 4 weeks of the Transition to Residency Course
• A total of 12 weeks of Intensive Clinical Experience
• A total of 12 weeks of General Electives
• An additional 20 weeks is considered unscheduled or flex time, which is time to be used for interviews, vacations, or other personal use.

Core Components of 4th Year

Acting Internship

Students mimic the role of an intern under the careful supervision of an attending physician and senior level resident physician. Acting Interns (AI) are the primary caregiver for patients, performing the history and physical, creating a differential, writing the orders, and managing the patient’s care. The AI also participates in call, cross coverage, and patient care transitions. Students are required to take an acting internship in Internal Medicine as well as taking a second acting internship from a specialty of their choice: anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family medicine, gynecology, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, or surgery.  Beginning with the Class of 2028 only the AI in Internal Medicine will be required and a second specialty AI can be applied toward Intensive Clinical Experience credit.

Intensive Clinical Electives/Experiences (ICE)

Defined as intensive, direct patient care experience providing more than 20 hours/wk of direct clinical/patient care experience and responsibility. Designed to teach medical students the importance of actively participating in the care of a patient and the health care team. Students devote face-to-face patient interactions serving as a member of the medical team.

General Electives

Students choose electives in various specialties that will support their interests as well as broaden and balance the overall educational experience.

Away Rotations

Students can receive Phase 3 credit at other institutions by completing an away rotation (“audition”).

Flex Time

Defined as unscheduled time which students can apply toward interviews, vacation, etc. 

Starting with Class of 2028

Acute Care Experience

• Provide students the opportunity to recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent medical care.
• Learn how to evaluate and treat patients with potentially life-threatening and/or complex conditions under appropriate supervision with potential exposure to bedside procedures.  
• Students will choose either medical/surgical Critical Care OR Emergency Medicine to achieve this four-week requirement.

Transition to Residency

• Equip graduating medical students with practical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies needed to confidently and effectively transition from medical school to residency training
• Specialty-specific, just-in-time training to support the transition from the role of student to a physician ready to assume increased responsibility for patient care.

Intensive Clinical Experience (ICE)

Defined as intensive, substantial, direct patient care experience providing more than 20 hours of direct clinical/patient care experience and responsibility; cannot be primarily shadowing or in a didactic setting. Designed to teach medical students the importance of actively participating in the care of a patient and the health care team. Students spend 50% of the rotation in face-to-face patient interactions while serving as a member of the medical team. Four of the 12 weeks of ICE must be taken in Cincinnati.

General Electives

Provides medical students with an opportunity to broaden and balance their educational experience in preparation for intern year.