Washington University is world-renowned for its research faculty, facilities and opportunities. As a Washington University medical student, it is easy to gain research experience; there are abundant opportunities over the course of the Gateway Curriculum’s three phases. Students may complete research longitudinally over the duration of their time at Washington University, working with experienced and dedicated mentors. Students have time dedicated to learning foundations of scholarship and to work on projects in Phase 1 as part of the EXPLORE Immersion. Students may also take up to 16 weeks for research activities in Phase 2 or Phase 3. In addition, for students who desire longer research experiences, there are one-year research opportunities, and opportunities to pursue dual degrees including the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI/MD), Master of Business Administration (MBA/MD), Master of Population Health Sciences (MPHS/MD), Master of Public Health (MPH/MD), and Master of Biomedical Informatics (BMI/MD). For these programs, financial support is available from several sources. Students may also spend time at the NIH doing research. In recent years, more than 90 percent of medical students participated in research of some type during medical school.
During Phase 1, all medical students take a series of modules on a pre-determined schedule that is similar for all. There is some flexibility in the EXPLORE curriculum. While students cannot accelerate the curriculum, there are options to decelerate or take a leave of absence if indicated. Students would discuss these options with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
Grading System for the three phases of the Gateway Curriculum:
Phase 1—Credit/No Credit for individual courses; Competent/Not-Competent at end of phase for six competency domains.
Phase 2—Competent/Non-Competent in patient care for each core clerkship; Competent/Competent with Distinction/Not-Competent at end of phase in foundational knowledge, interpersonal communication skills, and patient care domains; Competent/Not-Competent at end of phase in systems-based practice, professionalism, and practice-based learning and improvement
Phase 3—Credit/No Credit for individual courses; Competent/Competent with Distinction/Not-Competent at end of phase in systems-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement; Competent/Not-Competent for each at end of phase for foundational knowledge, patient care, interpersonal communication skills, and professionalism.
Because we are a competency-based program, students complete multiple assessments that provide information about their level of knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes in each of the program objectives (also known as competencies). These assessments include things like tests, essays, direct observation of clinical skills by faculty or others, standardized patients and simulations, and project work, to name just a few. Assessments are combined in a portfolio for evaluation by a committee of faculty who look at a student’s overall performance in each program objective. The portfolio is also provided for the student, to review it with a coach (medical students generally work with the same faculty coach throughout the 4 years of training). At each step along the way, the student receives feedback to better understand one’s strengths as well as one’s opportunities for growth and for advancement of skills. We believe this structure provides the developing doctor with lifelong and self-directed learning skills that are so critical to being an outstanding physician in this rapidly changing medical environment.
Most recent (2021) performance on USMLE Step 1 was 100% passing for first-time takers from Washington School of Medicine. In academic year 2021-22, for USMLE Step 2 CK, the passing rate was 98% for first-time takers from WashU Med.
In these most recent accounts of such scores, Washington University medical students performed about 15 points above the national mean on Step 1, and for Step 2 CK, students performed seven (7) points above the national mean.
Students who desire help with the boards can obtain it from many sources. Students receive sessions at multiple times during medical school to explain the board exams, provide general study strategies, and discuss tips-and-tricks for success. In addition to providing each student with a subscription to the UWorld question bank for both exams, students also receive vouchers for practice exams. Any student who desires individualized help with the boards can obtain it from medical school faculty with experience mentoring students in preparing for boards.
The Office of Program Evaluation & Continuous Quality Improvement at Washington University School of Medicine is dedicated to overseeing the evaluation of the MD educational program. The faculty and educational administration keep an open-door policy, meaning that they are always willing to talk to students about their concerns. Day-to-day informal access to curricular element leaders provides a means for students to communicate with faculty about learning methods and course material. At the end of each module, clerkship, and elective, students complete evaluations regarding the curricular element, including relevance of the material, organization, quality of instructors/leaders, and educational methods. This information becomes part of a formal curriculum evaluation process reported through governing committees to consider changes for individual elements or the curriculum as a whole. Input from students is highly valued by the faculty and administration and frequently leads to substantive changes. Examples of changes that have resulted include the following:
- The preclinical curricular elements are Credit/No Credit.
- Curricular element leaders are responsible for providing written responses to formative feedback provided by students.
- The teaching of biostatistics was overhauled to emphasize clinical applications of biostatistics and the use of biostatistics in the critical appraisal of new information.
- Interactive/active learning strategies (e.g., audience response systems, case-based learning, team-based learning) have been added to the classroom setting.
- Based on student requests, lectures are digitally recorded and available via the learning management system.
- Incorporated Narrative Assessment opportunities for all longitudinal team activities
The leadership of Washington University and the medical school is strongly committed to the recruitment, selection, education, retention and graduation of a diverse student body in a culture that supports diversity, inclusion, critical thinking and creativity. For example, the class that entered in 2022 came from 63 different undergraduate institutions, 31 different states and seven foreign countries. Fifty-two (52) percent of the class was female and approximately 42 percent were from groups underrepresented in medicine.
Support services are available for all medical students, with some student groups that focus on peer support and others that bring students together in a spirit of multiculturalism. For women, there is the Women in Science and Medicine Program, a social and professional organization that responds to the interests and needs of all women in the medical center.
The Asian-Pacific American Medical Students Association provides opportunities for students from all backgrounds to promote health advocacy and outreach to the Asian Pacific American populations of St. Louis. Most recently, a WUSM chapter of the Alliance of Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses in Medicine was formed in 2020 as part of the national organization. This group aims to create a community by and for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses and their allies.
The Office of Diversity Programs provides advising and support services, community partnerships for medical students and a network of residents and faculty from diverse groups. Students are supported by an active chapter of the Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, and LGBTQMed, a student-run interest group dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) identity and health. Additionally, students have access to networking and mentoring opportunities with OUTmed, an organization for LGBTQ+-identified faculty, residents, fellows and staff at Washington University School of Medicine.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provides leadership, expertise and advocacy on all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within Washington University School of Medicine. They work in partnership and collaboration with all departments and groups to direct, lead and advance institutional efforts that create a welcoming, diverse and inclusive environment where everyone who learns, trains, conducts research, teaches, works and seeks care within our campus community is included, valued and respected.
More information about WUSM student groups may be found here.
The Becker Medical Library, the McDonnell Medical Sciences Building, and Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (FLTC) house extensive computer facilities for our students, including pay-for-print network printers. In addition to desktop computers with full access, many students access the internet and online materials using their personal laptops and mobile devices via the wireless service provided at the medical school. Students are able to access all online course content and related materials stored at the medical school. These include course schedules, syllabi, interactive online sessions, topical videos, presentations, medical images and other course content.
There are numerous clinical sites available to our students. Within the immediate medical center, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital have a total capacity of about 1,893 beds. Both of these hospitals provide large amounts of care for the medically indigent in the St. Louis community. In 2022, the medical center hospitals logged 1,535,438 outpatient visits and 103,604 hospital discharges. Students also rotate through other hospitals in the community including Missouri Baptist Medical Center, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Progress West. Other clinical settings include rural Missouri with primary care preceptors. A substantial percentage of our students do rotations at other institutions both inside and outside the United States.
Students are actively involved in decision-making related to their medical student education through the committee structure. Students are voting members on all committees that oversee and also ensure continuous quality improvement of medical student programs. Student members of these committees include both elected students (e.g., the medical education representatives), as well as students selected at large. These committees review and make decisions about issues ranging from policy to accreditation standards.
Medical students at Washington University are active in the medical center and in the community. The student government class officers meet with the deans regularly to be kept up to date on things that are going on within the School of Medicine. The student government plays an important role in curriculum development. Students are actively engaged in the community in the Health, Equity and Justice curriculum and student programs.
Examples of community engagement and student programs include the following:
- CHOICES (Choosing Healthy Options in our Community, Environment, and Schools) for Youth in Detention is an innovative outreach effort dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of incarcerated teens.
- In the Perinatal Project, students pair up with a single, expectant mother and provide support through her pregnancy, delivery and post-partum time. (Another program that begins in the first-year puts students to work as patients’ health advocates.)
- The Pediatric Outreach program matches children who are suffering from chronic illnesses and the siblings of these children with medical student big brothers and big sisters to provide support for families.
- There are various other student groups, including those focused on music, art, sports, religion, and literature. Student publications include the Dis-Orientation Guide and Hippocrene. For a complete list of student organizations, click here.
Written transcripts of the lectures are not produced, but each class is video-recorded live. Following each lecture, a link to the class recording is placed on the course’s online database and is accessible by internet. In addition to the class recordings, the online databases also contain written lecture materials and associated PowerPoint files.
Hepatitis B is a required vaccination for matriculation. The status is reviewed by WashU Student Health Services (SHS) prior to entry.
There are protocols to follow in the event of a blood borne pathogen exposure. Post-exposure education/treatment is provided by SHS staff.
No. WUSM does not send out invitations; all applicants are able to complete our supplemental application.
Due to the transition to the Gateway Curriculum, Washington University School of Medicine is no longer accepting advanced standing (transfer) applications from students at other medical schools. See this page for more background, the full policy and its rationale.