Total course length (in hours) |
8440 hours (for all 6 years) |
7,745 hours (for all 6 years) |
Average hours of student activities at medical school per week, years 1 through 4 |
32/week |
34/week |
Number of students/year |
Beginning in 2012, admission of two initial groups of 30 students, followed by another two groups of 60, and, currently, 90 students/year |
90/year |
Curriculum |
Made up of curricular components: Modules, Curricular Units, Medical Internships - Curricular Stages and Optional Components, organized in 12 semesters with 2 learning cycles: Cycle I - Basic Clinical Integration (semesters 1 through 8) and Cycle II - clerkship (semesters 9 through 12) |
Organized by subject (Anatomy, Physiology, Semiology, etc.), divided into pre-clinical, clinical and clerkship phases (2 years each) |
Teacher/student ratio |
Theoretical class – 30-90 student per teacher Practical – varies, most practical classes have 15-30 students per teacher |
Theoretical class – 90 students per teacher Practical – varies, most practical classes have 20-25 students per teacher |
Content Delivery (lecture, laboratory, clinical, etc.) |
Based on modules for learning objectives with active search for knowledge, practical activities in laboratory environment, and realistic simulations; few lectures. Clerkship, strongly practical, years 5 to 6 |
Strongly theoretical, lecture-based, from years 1 to 4, with some practical activities. Strongly practical from years 5 to 6 |
Methodology or Pedagogical Model |
Mostly active (TBL and PBL). Lectures at a few points |
Mostly Traditional. 30 hours of PBL per year Includes TBL and flipped classroom at a few points |
Assessment |
Cognitive assessment based on clinical cases from year 1 on, clinical skills and gestures. Formative in specific subjects, humanistic-behavioral involvement |
Mostly summative with cognitive assessment. Formative is limited to some subjects: one discipline has OSCE (year 3) and another has long case (year 1) |
Mentoring |
Yes |
No |
Student representation |
Has the following organized student groups: - physical activities (Atlética) - academic activities (DA) - religious activities (GOL and ONDA) |
Has the following organized student groups: - physical activities (Atlética) - academic activities (DA) - religious activities - sports activities - musical activities |
Primary Health Care |
Students have some contact, beginning in year 1 |
Students have some contact beginning in year 1. However, they have more contact during clerkship, when on a team |
Medical support for students (provided by medical school) |
No |
No |
Psychological support for students (provided by medical school) |
Yes. Psychological support for students (provided by medical school) from year 1 on, via referral by psycho-pedagogical department |
No |
Medical student well-being/wellness program |
No |
No |
Well-being day |
No |
No |
Workshops and presentations promoting wellness |
No |
Yes, beginning in 2017. Cohort used in study did not have this. |
Library |
Yes |
Yes |
Fitness Center for students |
No |
No |
Student lounge |
Yes, inside building with armchairs for rest and TV. |
Yes, inside building (TV, snooker table, tennis) |
Free wi-fi |
Yes |
Yes |
Mental health screening |
Yes |
No |
Student Life Advising |
No |
No |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program |
No |
Yes |
Student Parties |
Yes, off campus |
Yes, off campus |
Cafeteria |
Yes |
Yes |
Parking lots |
Yes, for teachers and students |
Only for professors at medical school Student parking available at a distance of 500 meters (1640 feet). Seen as a great problem |
Other well-being initiatives |
No |
- Live Music for students (once a week) |