Education
education
Curriculum Highlights
With the educational philosophy of “cultivating healthcare professionals who will serve as leaders at the core of medicine,” we aim to develop medical practitioners and researchers who are dedicated to medical ethics, acquire advanced scientific thinking, medical knowledge, and skills, and earn the trust of society.
The Faculty of Medicine offers an innovative and systematic educational program. During the first year and a half, students study a broad range of subjects alongside students from other faculties, allowing them to gain diverse perspectives while fostering well-rounded character and social adaptability. From the very beginning, students engage in “Medical Seminars,” where they participate in small group discussions to explore specific issues, “Introduction to Clinical Medicine,” which introduces the basics of clinical practice, and “Early Clinical Exposure,” which gives students hands-on experience in medical settings.
In their second and third years, students delve deeper into life sciences through foundational medical courses, systematically learning cutting-edge biomedical science and developing their scientific thinking. In the third year, students participate in the “Medical Research Internship,” a three-month program where they conduct hands-on research in laboratories both within and outside the university (including overseas), gaining practical experience in medical research.
From the fourth year, clinical lectures begin, followed by nationwide standardized tests (CBT and OSCE), and in the fifth year, clinical rotations commence. Through guidance from dedicated clinical instructors and collaboration with affiliated hospitals, students gain exposure to the most advanced clinical medicine. Additionally, students participate in clinical clerkships, where they join medical teams consisting of attending physicians and residents, allowing them to gain firsthand experience as active members of the clinical care team.
Curriculum Conceptual Diagram
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<Curriculum Map>
In response to societal needs and changing times, there is a growing demand to improve medical education by maintaining a consistent vision for pre- and post-graduate training. To cultivate exceptional physicians, we aim to ensure the acquisition of fundamental clinical skills while focusing on education that fosters motivation and a sense of mission to contribute to regional healthcare.
To nurture competent medical researchers, we have introduced a new “Advanced Research Training Program (ART Program),” which offers a unique approach allowing undergraduate students to take graduate-level courses and enabling early completion of graduate studies.
Okayama University remains committed to producing outstanding physicians and medical researchers in the future.