Personal and Professional Development 1 & 2

Description of Personal and Professional Development 1 & 2 Course

The Personal and Professional course of the first two years of medical school (PPD 1 & 2 course) is comprised of four primary components: Clinical Specialty Shadowing, in-person Themes sessions, Student Affairs activities, and self-care and wellness maintenance.

• First- and second-year medical students engage in Clinical Specialty Shadowing (CSS) experiences. The CSS experiences occur within the PPD 1 & 2 weeks, which are held within or  immediately following an organ/system-based block, dispersed throughout the first 18 months of medical school. The CSS experiences provide interactive, observational experiences with doctors within hospitals and clinics and reinforce the content from the organ/system-based block education, the doctoring course, and the Theme content that also occurs concurrently within the PPD 1 & 2 course. The timing of the CSS experience encourages early exploration of potential career paths and provides opportunities to witness many facets of medical care in our communities.
• The PPD 1 & 2 course, with the associated early shadowing experiences, is one of the many unique, patient care-centered, innovations that sets the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix apart from most other medical schools. Students select from various specialty and subspecialty services, in pediatric and adult environments, for each of their CSS experiences, depending on their personal learning goals for the year. For example, if one knew that they were extremely interested in cardiac systems, they could elect for a cardiology experience at an outpatient clinic, a hospital-based interventional cardiology experience (catheterization, electrophysiology, and stress testing), and a surgical-based experience (cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgery). They could also select adult- or pediatric-focused experiences, depending on their interests.

• In addition to CSS, students actively participate in incorporating five primary Themes into their developing practice of medicine. The five Themes of the PPD 1 & 2 course comprise: Bioethics, Evidence-based Medicine and Public Health, Health Equity, Health Systems Sciences, and Behavioral Sciences. These essential Themes serve to develop a fully realized physician, one with exceptional emotional intelligence and high scientific standards. The Themes provide a framework to the physician who desires to genuinely connect with their patients and the communities that they serve, one who hopes to provide outstanding, compassionate care and to advocate for positive change.  

• Additionally, the physicians of Student Affairs are actively involved in the PPD 1 & 2 weeks, promoting meetings with Learning Specialists and House Advisors, providing valuable USMLE Step 1 training exercises, and promoting life-long joy in the practice of medicine. These activities ensure that students remain on-track during their first years of medical school.
• CAMP (Coaching, Advising, and Mentorship) Requirements:
  • Meet with House Advisor at least once; students must complete and upload any assigned advising forms/inventories prior to required meeting(s)
  • Meet with Learning Specialist at least once
  • Attend at least 1 supplemental instruction (SI) session

• Additionally, time to practice wellness or pursue other activities, such as research, is provided during the PPD 1 & 2 weeks. This encourages self-care practices and the maintenance of good physical and mental health during medical school. It also encourages pursuit of personal excellence.