Medical School Year 3 & 4: Clinical Sciences Overview

Students at the International University of Barbados – School of Medicine (IUBSM) are required to pass the USMLE Step 1 exam before completing the bridge semester. Once they have passed Step 1, they may begin their clinical rotations in the United States. The 3rd and 4th years of medical school are focused on Clinical Sciences, primarily consisting of clinical rotations (clerkships) under the supervision of a physician (preceptor).

IUBSM’s Clinical Campus is located in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and all affiliated hospitals have ACGME-accredited residency programs. Students must complete 48 weeks of core clerkships and an additional 28 weeks of elective clerkships. The details for elective rotations will be available during scheduling. Alongside the clinical rotations, students must also prepare for and pass the USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) and Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) exams before receiving their M.D. degree.

IUBSM Clinical Sciences Pathway

Core Clerkships (48 total credits)

The respective department chairs oversee each rotation within their discipline. Core clerkships include Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Family Medicine. Upon completion of 24 weeks of core rotations, students will be eligible to sit for USMLE Step 2 CS. Students must complete all 48 weeks of core rotations and pass the NBME CCSE (Comprehensive Clinical Sciences Examination) with a score of at least 74 to be eligible for USMLE Step 2 CK.

Core Clerkships:

  1. Internal Medicine (12 credits):
    The 12-week Internal Medicine clerkship equips third-year students with the clinical skills, knowledge, and problem-solving techniques necessary for evaluating and caring for adult medical patients, particularly in inpatient settings. Students will enhance their ability to gather, record, analyze, and communicate clinical data under the supervision of Internal Medicine faculty.

  2. Surgery (12 credits):
    The 12-week Surgery clerkship provides clinical skills and knowledge related to the care of surgical patients. Students will gain operating room and ambulatory experience under the supervision of surgical faculty, learning basic surgical principles, asepsis, and post-operative care. Core lectures on the surgical patient and surgical emergencies are also included.

  3. Pediatrics (6 credits):
    In the 6-week Pediatrics clerkship, third-year students will focus on the health care needs of neonates and children, including primary and preventive care. Students will work under the supervision of Pediatric faculty in both inpatient and outpatient settings, enhancing their skills in clinical evaluation and communication.

  4. Psychiatry (6 credits):
    The Psychiatry clerkship, lasting 6 weeks, exposes students to the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders, including acute and chronic conditions, and psychiatric emergencies. The course emphasizes diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment.

  5. Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 credits):
    The 6-week Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship covers women's health care, with a focus on reproductive needs. Students will gain expertise in evaluating and managing gender-specific health care needs, including preventive care and the reproductive lifecycle, under the supervision of OB-GYN faculty.

  6. Family Medicine (6 credits):
    The 6-week Family Medicine clerkship offers experience in diagnosing and treating patients in the family practice setting. Students will have the opportunity to work with diverse patient populations, addressing chronic medical problems and preventive health care, while also managing psychosocial issues in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Elective Clerkships (28 total credits)

Elective clerkships generally last 4-6 weeks and expose students to specialty variations in clinical practice. These rotations offer diagnostic skills and clinical experience to help students explore different specialties and subspecialties. The goal is to prepare students for general practice or assist them in selecting a specialty.

USMLE Waiver for International Students

Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States or Canada may request approval to complete the MD program without taking the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS exams.

If granted approval, students will progress to AICM/clerkships after passing the NBME Comprehensive Basic Science Exam. Instead of the USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS, students will need to pass the NBME CCSE and an IUBSM-administered OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination).

Please note that students who are approved for the waiver will not be able to pursue clerkships in the United States unless they achieve a passing USMLE Step 1 score. This waiver is primarily for students who do not intend to apply for residency in the United States or Canada and plan to return to their home country where the USMLE is not required.

To request a waiver, students should contact the Registrar at info@iubmed.com with a detailed written request explaining the reasons for the request. An ad-hoc committee will review the request and make a decision based on the student’s career goals. This waiver is not available for students struggling to pass the USMLE exams.