Foundations of Clinical Medicine
What do students say about FCM?
View these student interviews in our video gallery to learn about their experience with Foundations of Clinical Medicine.
The Foundations of Clinical Medicine (FCM) course is a two-year, hands-on, out-of-the-lecture-hall experience for first- and second-year medical students. In FCM, students develop basic clinical skills, including:
- professionalism
- medical interviewing
- physical examination
- clinical reasoning
FCM is the collaborative effort of the departments of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
The FCM course involves 400 students in weekly small-group, workshop, and individualized preceptorship sessions. The two-year FCM experience requires the coordination of many dedicated faculty:
- 50 small-group leaders,
- 70 fourth-year student co-leaders, and
- over 300 practicing physicians.
The curriculum was designed by generalists, in consultation with a number of basic science and subspecialty faculty, to cover the core skills of doctoring. FCM prepares preclinical students for the demands of the third-year clerkships.
The benefits of the FCM program extend beyond the preclinical curriculum. Fourth-year student co-leaders reinforce their own clinical skills and develop teaching skills in preparation for residencies. Physicians share their expertise with enthusiasm and dedication. Patients and office staff welcome FCM students in clinical practices in Richmond and throughout the region. Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Pediatric faculties have grown from the close collaboration.
Teaching Methods
In addition to traditional studies, the first and second years of medical school include FCM small-group and preceptorship experiences. Students meet in small groups on campus, participate in office-based preceptorships, and receive valuable feedback through direct observation as well as written assignments, tests, and quizzes. Click on each of the links below for more information:
