The clinical component of the MD Program is imparting to each medical student graduate with the fundamental patient-centered knowledge and skills important in health and disease as the basis of safe and effective patient care. The gap between the basic sciences and clinical medicine is bridged by providing the students with the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate patients while at the same time, emphasizing the importance and integration of basic sciences, behavioral medicine, ethics, and professionalism.

The focus of this clinical phase through systems is on abnormal structure and function. Students rotate through a series of clinical clerkships which provide opportunities for the study of patients presenting with abnormal structure and function of the body systems. Clinical teaching complements actual clinical experience in patients. The epidemiology, etiology, and natural history of disease processes are investigated in greater depth than in preclinical phase. The principles of therapeutics are included in a consideration of the medical management of specific disease processes. The ethical implications of medical intervention are considered and the psychological and social consequences both of disease and medical intervention are reviewed.

Clinical education AUS School of Medicine takes place primarily in the second half of the MD Program, semesters 6 to 11— final semesters before earning the degree.

During clinical education, success depends not only on the knowledge, but also on how quickly students are able to summon it and how much of a team player they are in working with other students, residents and attending physicians. Professionalism, reliability and humility combined with a superb execution of core clinical skills are the keys to success.