Welcome
Vanderbilt’s Core Clinical Curriculum (VC3) is a list of 25 presenting problems for which all students should develop the skills to evaluate, diagnose, and manage before graduation. The list was originally developed in 2003 by a team of clerkship directors, Master Clinical Teachers (MCTs), and administrators under the auspices of a grant from the New York Academy of Medicine, the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, and the Association for American Medical Colleges, entitled the Clinical Transaction Projection. The foundational principle used in the development of this list was that the context of these specific clinical problems afforded students the opportunity to develop clinical skills. While VC3 represents the core clinical experiences, it does not preclude coverage of additional topics within the clerkships.
Medical students will demonstrate the basics of clinical judgment in the evaluation of patients with any of the 25 presenting problems in the Vanderbilt Core Clinical Curriculum (VC3). Clinical judgment is how physicians use clinical skills, information from scientific sources and prior experience with similar patients to understand what is going on with the patient and determine the next best step to manage their problem.
Rationale: The selected presenting problems are commonly encountered conditions that have important differential diagnoses requiring decision-making based on clinical findings.
Required Skills/Procedures:
- Perform situation-appropriate (problem-focused or complete) history and physical examinations
- Interpret clinical information to formulate a prioritized differential diagnosis
- Guide the creation of a patient-specific management plan
Appropriate Setting: Inpatient and Outpatient
Expected level of Responsibility: Direct supervision with real patients