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Longitudinal integrated clerkships for medical students: an innovation adopted by medical schools in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.

Longitudinal integrated clerkships for medical students: an innovation adopted by medical schools in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.

  • April 9, 2009
  • Norris, Thomas E; Schaad, Douglas C. ; DeWitt, Dawn; Ogur, Barbara; Hunt, D Daniel
  • Article

Longitudinal integrated clinical clerkships (LICs) are an innovative medical education model emphasizing continuity and learner-centeredness. This study surveyed 17 medical schools known to use LICs, with 16 responding (15 actively running programs) across four countries. These programs, most launched after 1995, typically span 40 weeks and cover core clinical disciplines. Over 2,700 students have completed LICs, with participating students showing comparable exam performance to peers in traditional clerkships and expressing strong support for the model. Preliminary data suggest LIC graduates may be more likely to pursue primary care. The findings highlight growing adoption of LICs and provide a foundation for future program development and evaluation.

  • Source: Academic Medicine

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Charlie Labarda, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine and Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM-SHS), where he has taught for more than a decade. He is a regular member of the National research Council of the Philippines, belonging to the Medical Sciences Division (Division III). Before joining the medical faculty at UPM-SHS he trained in at the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital. He finished his PhD in the Department of Psychology at The University of Hong Kong, his Master in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management (high honors), Doctor of Medicine (cum laude) at the Our Lady of Fatima University-College of Medicine, and his undergraduate Social Sciences studies (cum laude) at UP Tacloban College. He was a topnotcher in the Physician Licensure Examination (8th place).

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