Foundations of Physician Responsibility 3

School of Medicine

Foundations of Physician Responsibility (FPR) 3 focuses on integrating core physician responsibilities mainly to support the development of advanced clinical skills and leadership. FPR3 prepares students for greater clinical independence by improving hypothesis-driven history-taking, physical examination, clinical reasoning in uncertain situations, and clear communication in oral, written, and asynchronous formats. Students enhance skills essential for safe, patient-centered care, including interprofessional teamwork, effective handoffs, difficult conversations, shared decision-making, and conflict resolution. The course also emphasizes preparing physicians to navigate complex health systems, apply patient safety and improvement science principles, and analyze population and public health data to enhance outcomes at both individual and system levels. Through reflective practice, leadership development, and focus on personal well-being, students develop self-management skills, professional identity, and healthy coping strategies for managing ambiguity, medical errors, and the emotional challenges of clinical practice. Technology is used to support clinical decision-making, workflow efficiency, and lifelong learning. Curricular experiences occur in three primary formats: (1) Two required Immersion Weeks in August and March, primarily focused on population health, patient safety, and communication skills; (2) FPR: Self sessions on certain Monday afternoons with college mentors; these experiences are self-enrolled alongside Integrated Science Courses, Advanced Clinical Experiences, Advanced Electives, Research Immersion, or Flex Months; and (3) Clinical Skills Anchors (CSAs) on certain Tuesday afternoons; these experiences are self-enrolled and involve clinical learning and simulations.