Introduction The new MBBS curriculum has been started in the University of Medicine 1 Yangon (UM1) to provide medical students to acquire competencies of professional attributes such as, but not limited to, knowledge, skill, attitude, core values, ethics, etc. which are essential to becoming competent medical doctors. This program fosters student-centered learning enabling learning opportunities for comprehensive learning: self-directed learning, critical thinking, application of the principles of medicine beyond memorization. Teaching strategies focus on expected outcomes (competencies) for the development of professional skills relevant to the health care needs of the community. UM1 graduates are expected to be qualified doctors who can provide patient-centered care as primary care physicians. Program learning outcomes of the undergraduate medical curriculum are based on the following domains:

• Medical knowledge
• Patient care
• Practice-based learning
• System-based practice
• Ethics and professionalism
• Interpersonal and communication skills.

The duration of the course is a total of 6 years, composed of Foundation Year(FY), Pre-clinical years (M1 & M2), and clinical years (M3, M4, and M5).

Foundation Year (FY)

Foundation year has 2 semesters.

Semester 1:

Semester 1 takes 24 weeks of teaching with 6 weeks of assessment duration; students will learn GCE-A level science subjects with emphasis on the application of medical science. Language subjects aim for student’s communication skills, appreciation of literature, and culture needed for soft-skill development. Followings are the subjects that students have to learn in semester 1 of FY: Language-1: Myanmar Language-2: English Science-1:    Biology (Zoology and Botany) Science-2:   Physics and Mathematics Science-3:   Chemistry

Semester 2

Semester 2 takes 12 weeks of teaching with 2 weeks of assessment duration. This semester is the short introductory course for principles of basic medical science subjects, to provide a basic foundation of medical science subjects for easy understanding of Integrated system modules in the upcoming Medical year-1 and -2 (M1 & M2). Students have to learn the following principles:

• Structural Principle
• Functional Principle
• Molecular Principle
• Principle of Disease Mechanism
• Principle of Medical Microbiology
• Principle of Drugs Therapy

Personal and Professional Development Program (PPD)

Students are obliged to participate in the PPD program, in which students are trained to abstract basic ethical principles, civic, humanity, and health care system of the country. Active participation of each student in group discussions, presentations, forums on interprofessional education (IPE), reflective report writing for an assigned hospital visit, and project-based learning with the theme of “good human, good citizen“ is mandatory in PPD sessions. This program aims to provide opportunities for students to acquire skills of leadership, teamwork, interpersonal communication skills, and self-awareness for developing attributes of Professionalism in the practice of medicine as a service to mankind.

Medical Year-1 and 2 (M1 & M2)

M-1 and M-2 of the program are mainly for basic medical sciences with clinical reasoning. In these years, students have to learn integrated teaching of basic medical science subjects in 10 system modules. Students are expected to acquire knowledge of the normal structure and function of each organ system, molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms that are important in maintaining the body’s homeostasis, and knowledge of the various disease mechanisms that altered in structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology) of the body. Students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the scientific basis and interpretation of common diagnostic studies, ability to develop a rational therapeutic approach based on principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology.

Vertical modules

Following vertical modules are incorporated throughout the Medical years (M1to M5).

• Clinical management
• Ethics and professionalism
• Community and family medicine
• Social and behavioral science
• Research culture and skill

Clinical Years (M3, M4, and M5)

In clinical years, students will be involved in a series of clinical rotations including electives, a residential field trip for community and family medicine training. Students will undertake clinical placements in various departments of the following affiliated teaching hospitals of UM-1, Yangon:

1. Yangon General Hospital (YGH)
2. New Yangon General Hospital (NYGH)
3. Yangon Specialty Hospital (YSH)
4. West Yangon General Hospital (WYGH)
5. East Yangon General Hospital (EYGH)
6. Workers Hospital (WH)
7. Yangon Central Women Hospital (CWH)
8. Yangon Children Hospital (YCH)
9. Yangon Orthopedic Hospital (YOH)
10. Yangon Eye Hospital (YEH)
11. Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Hospital
12. Mental Health Hospital, Yangon

Medical Year-3  (M3)

Medical Year-3 is junior clerkship training, mainly core clinical medicine with hospital-based teaching. Students will learn general medicine with related specialties and general surgery with related specialties by rotating placement posting. There is a 4-week elective period; students may choose to learn their interested field by proposing a structured proposal. In the elective component, students are encouraged to seek experiential learning opportunities in contexts of their interest to broaden their awareness of the health challenges communities are facing.   The elective program aims for the development of competencies and qualities of future physicians extend beyond medical and technical competence.

Medical Year-4  (M4)

Medical Year-4 is specialty clerkship training that focuses on specialties in all areas of medicine, including Paediatrics, O&G, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Palliative care, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Forensic Medicine with short-term re-visit to general medicine and general surgery. In this year, 4 weeks of residential field training (RFT) are included as a part of the community and family medicine program. Students will be placed at township hospitals and rural health centers to learn health care in the community, for the understanding of health-related issues with promoting health and preventing diseases. Medical  Year-5  (M5) Medical Year-5 (Final year)  is senior clerkship training mainly in clinical workplaces; students are rotated among four major clinical departments. In this year, 4 weeks of student-selected component (SSC) is planned for the student’s self-directed learning; students will have their own choice to learn in one of the clinical departments for their further improvement in clinical practices.

Teaching/Learning   Activities

The new curriculum emphasizes student-centered learning. Students are responsible for active participation in small group teaching sessions; team-based learning, problem-based learning, and case-based learning session. These teaching-learning strategies enabled independent decision-making and improvement of communication skills which encourages the students to become lifelong learners in the ever-updating medical profession and science.

Assessment

The training program of the new MBBS course is very intensive; student’s commitment and dedicated performance are fundamental to ensure the achievement of expected competencies/outcomes. Students will face several series of assessments including continuous assessments, module-end assessments, and year-end assessments. According to the level (year) of the program, students’ competencies will be assessed by written tests/exams, practical tests, viva-voce, OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), and   OSPE (Objective Structured Practical Examination). Attendance: all the learning process of the whole training program acquires student’s participation in both classroom setting and clinical settings. Student’s attendance and engagement will be strictly assessed in group learning activities such as team-based learning, simulation-based learning, and case-based learning.