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The Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV prepares a diverse student body for the delivery of patient-centered care and meaningful careers in clinical practice, research, and community service. The program integrates foundational science and primary care clinical experiences with community-based service learning that addresses population health and social disparities, incorporates independent research projects that contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge and community health resources, and develops strong commitments to public service and lifelong learning. The curriculum includes instruction in biomedical ethics, ethical decision-making, patient safety, population health, interprofessional skills, and professionalism, as well as cultural competence, bias recognition and reduction, and the legal and cultural facets of medicine.

Learning Outcomes

Medical Knowledge

Apply principles of the sciences integral to medicine (biomedical, clinical, and cognate) to determine the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of significant human diseases.

Demonstrate clinical reasoning to develop and narrow a differential diagnosis by systematically merging clinical information with knowledge of mechanisms and epidemiology of disease.

Display critical judgment by formulating clinically relevant questions, identifying and appraising salient evidence in a self-directed manner, and combining this knowledge with patient contextual factors, characteristics, and values in medical decision-making.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, families, peers, and other healthcare personnel.

Share knowledge with others in an organized and effective manner.

Patient Care & Procedural Skills

Conduct and document a situation-appropriate patient history and physical examination.

Identify and propose an appropriate shared treatment plan for acute and chronic diseases that reflects medical knowledge, patient contextual factors, and the best available evidence.

Correctly perform basic procedural skills with attention to patient comfort and safety.

Provide appropriate patient-centered counseling to promote disease prevention and optimize health outcomes.

Apply principles of integrative medicine, wellness, hospitality, nutrition, and pain management to patient care.

Task-Based Learning & Improvement

Demonstrate the self-reflection necessary to identify personal strengths and weaknesses in the learning and practice of medicine.

Address personal weaknesses and continuously work to improve the learning and practice of medicine through personal change and utilization of appropriate educational and other resources.

Apply an understanding of the scientific method to appraise data, research, and evidence relevant to the effective care of patients.

Professionalism

Demonstrate professional conduct and accountability in learning and patient care.

Display respect and empathy for patients as humans and awareness of their diverse and unique qualities.

Recognize ethical issues that arise in clinical cases and research, apply the principles of medical ethics, and explain ethically justifiable options.

Career Possibilities

Doctorate of Medicine, M.D., graduates pursue careers as physicians, researchers, and/or medical scientists. Depending on a student's interest, a student may enter into the practice of medicine (residency) or pursue several different research disciplines from laboratory science, clinical research or health sciences research. Physicians and M.D. researchers often work at academic medical centers or in private practices, as well as for the pharmaceutical industry, and even in the government sector.