Clinical Electives
Alpert Medical School offers its students a wide variety of elective opportunities in clinical medicine, research, the liberal arts, and the basic sciences. These may be pursued at Brown or at other universities, in our member hospitals, in associated community institutions, or in approved, off-site preceptorships.
The Curriculum Committee of the Division of Biology and Medicine, which designed Brown's medical course of study, stated in its 1972 report:
Traditionally, medical school curricula are largely prescribed, with little free time for students to explore their individual interests. Faced with the problem of fitting a vast amount of knowledge into a brief period of time and desirous of strengthening and equalizing the common-ground aspects of American medical education, curriculum planners tended to design an orderly program which occupied all of the students' time. It is increasingly recognized that the educational process requires both time for reflection and time for pursuit of special interests. Moreover, the University Curriculum Committee has prescribed that at least a fourth of student time during the post-baccalaureate years be allocated to this end. Thus, the course of study here presented is viewed by the Committee as a minimal framework within which students have the opportunity to both to devote themselves to elective pursuits in medical science and practice, and to continue other interests of their liberal education through their medical years. Accordingly the curricular pattern includes electives at every stage; and in the clinical years, almost as much time is given for elective experiences as for those which are mandatory.
The Clinical Electives List is intended to assist you in planning the elective portion of your studies. It contains descriptions of elective opportunities appropriate for each level of study and describes how they may become part of your educational program. You are welcome to speak personally with the designated faculty of the various listed courses for further information.