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MD Program

Our Values

  • Academic excellence in students regardless of their prior experience or performance
  • Passion for life-long learning
  • Continuous improvement of learners and teachers
  • Identity formation as caring, master physicians

What We Do

Our integrated team consists of educators and clinicians across the campuses who work to help promote student success throughout the pre-clinical and clinical years. We work together with the College Advisors to help ensure overall, holistic student success. We do this through the following:

Pre-clinical Years

  1. Individual coaching in study skills, test-taking, time management, and guidance around educational resources.
  2. Development of individual problem solving and concept integration.
  3. Individual exam and question set error analysis.
  4. Group training around study skills and Step 1 preparedness.
  5. Class meeting presentations on study strategies and effective learning.
  6. Detailed study schedule and guides for Step 1 preparation.
  7. Individualized assessment for Step 1 readiness.
  8. Tutoring by trained senior student tutors.
  9. Informing and contributing to pre-clinical curriculum.
  10. Integration with student support services, foundation phase leadership, and college advisors.

Clinical Years

  1. Individualized coaching on how to perform well in the clinical setting, particularly in skills such as teamwork, history and physical, and clinical presentations.
  2. Coaching in integration of knowledge and application to the clinical setting, such as development of differential diagnoses and medical decision making.
  3. Individual and group coaching on the best ways to prepare for Shelf exams and Step 2CK.
  4. Integration with student support services, clinical education leadership, and college advisors.
  5. Coaching in study schedules and methods.

Who We Are

Study Tips

The philosophy of the OAE is that the most effective learning strategies occur through the integration of active learning, spaced repetition, and application. Active learning techniques such as brain dumps, concept maps, group discussions, whiteboarding, and teach-backs promote deeper engagement with the material. Spaced repetition tools like Anki or P90X reinforces long-term retention. Application, which includes working through practice questions and conducting an error analysis, enables learners to identify knowledge gaps and refine test-taking strategies. The combination of these evidence-based approaches can optimize the student’s learning experience.

For personalized study tips, please contact the OAE.

For additional study tips, please visit the OAE Canvas website.

Accessing a Tutor

Medical school can be challenging, and the OAE is dedicated to offering comprehensive academic support. Along with personalized coaching, the OAE provides access to tutors to help students prepare for foundation phase exams, Step 1, Shelf Exams, and Step 2. To request a tutor, contact the OAE, and meet an academic coach.

Contact the OAE at academicexcellence@med.unc.edu.