The internal medicine clerkship objectives are a framework of basic competencies which the student will achieve during their rotation. These involve clinical skills such as history taking, physical examination and bedside procedures. The students also refine their ability to formulate a problem list and prioritize patient management. Students have the opportunity to review professional competencies and apply their knowledge to clinical situations. The curriculum for internal medicine is vast and the students use the Essential Clinical Encounters (ECE) to guide their study.

Internal Medicine ECE list C2021 (PDF)

• Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) elective blocks will generally be limited to two weeks in duration, in order that the maximum number of students may have an internal medicine (IM) elective experience. At the discretion of the IM clerkship director and when availability permits, CTU elective blocks may be extended to a maximum of four weeks.
• A given student may spend a maximum of four weeks in any CTU and non-CTU internal medicine elective (all hospital sites included).
• Post-Medical Foundation 4 (MF4) students and clinical clerks (McMaster and visiting) on CTU electives at all sites are expected to participate in call shifts per the regulations established by Hamilton IM core clerkship call policy.
• All McMaster students, from Hamilton and the regional campuses, will submit their requests on MedSIS, which comes to the IM clerkship administrative coordinator. Students may contact them with scheduling inquiries for the above electives.
• Visiting electives will continue to be allocated solely through the McMaster Visiting Electives office. The McMaster Visiting Electives office determines the policies and procedures relating to visiting students.
• Visiting students are encouraged to seek electives between April and October, as this is the period of lower elective requests from McMaster students.
• Students must confirm their elective within one week of an offer.
• Cancelling an elective less than two months in advance of the elective start date will result in notification to the Undergraduate MD office for lack of professionalism.
• Prior to being confirmed for a CTU elective at McMaster, all students will agree to the expectations sent to them by accepting the terms in an email response to this office.
• The date of confirmation will be recorded.
• Students may also be given a choice of a non-traditional elective team or consult team and must agree to the requirements and expectations sent to them via email. They will confirm in the same way as above.