Phase 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) Curriculum

Phase 1 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine is a 20-month pre-clerkship curriculum that provides students with a strong foundation in the basic sciences and clinical skills needed to become a physician. During Phase 1, students gain foundational knowledge about the body in health and illness, then learn in integrated organ-system based Block courses. They move from the skin and musculoskeletal system, to the cardiopulmonary, renal and gastrointestinal systems, and they end with the neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and reproductive systems.

Throughout phase 1, students build skills and knowledge in the Doctoring and Clinical Skills (DoCS) course, which addresses organ systems in the same order as Block courses. DoCS provides opportunities for hands-on experience through clinical simulations and patient interactions. Two additional courses, Synthesis and Medical Colloquia, allow for reflection and deeper inquiry into topics essential to modern medicine. All courses have content from our Professional Development, Health, Illness and Society and Health Care Systems themes, which recognize interactions between science and society.

In addition to coursework, students in Phase 1 may also participate in research or volunteer activities related to healthcare. Phase 1 culminates with the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, a comprehensive standardized exam that assesses the knowledge a student will need for the clinical phase of their medical education.

View Phase 1 Curriculum

Who do I ask? Heading link

Course NameCourse DirectorCourse Coordinator
BLOCK 1:
BODY SYSTEMS & HOMEOSTASIS I
Dr. Hugh Clements-Jewery
hughcj14@uic.edu
Katie Nilsen
katiebn@uic.edu
A340
BLOCK 2:
PATHOGENESIS
Dr. Paul Chastain
pdchast7@uic.edu
Katie Nilsen
katiebn@uic.edu
A340
BLOCK 3:
SKIN, MUSCLE & MOVEMENT
Dr. Sam Pope
spope42@uic.edu
Katie Nilsen
katiebn@uic.edu
A340
BLOCK 4:
CIRCULATION & RESPIRATION
Dr. Hugh Clements-Jewery
hughcj14@uic.edu
Katie Nilsen
katiebn@uic.edu
A340
BLOCK 5:
DIGESTION & HOMEOSTASIS II
Dr. Yovia Xu
yuexu5@uic.edu
Susan Ping
pings@uic.edu
A207
BLOCK 6:
BRAIN & BEHAVIOR
Dr. Tony Rosella
rosella2@uic.edu
Susan Ping
pings@uic.edu
A207
BLOCK 7:
REGULATION & REPRODUCTION
Dr. Robert Hillwig
rhillwig@uic.edu
Susan Ping
pings@uic.edu
A207
BLOCK 8:
SYNTHESIS
Dr. Linda Chang
lchang@uic.edu
Susan Ping
pings@uic.edu
A207
MEDICAL COLLOQUIADr. Mitchell King
msking@uic.edu
Susan Ping
pings@uic.edu
A207
DOCTORING & CLINICAL SKILLSDr. TJ Webb
tjwebb@uic.edu
Tori Allen
tallen19@uic.edu
A245
SIMULATIONDr. Paul Chastain
pdchast7@uic.edu
Katy Dabbs
kdabb01s@uic.edu
A218