MD 6 (Sixth Semester: Transition to Clinical Science)

Xavier offers students this unique semester to not only prepare them for the USMLE Step 1 Exam, but also for a smooth transition into clinical medicine in the United States. Students gain valuable knowledge during this time and a clear comprehension of the healthcare system and post-graduate medical training in the United States. During this semester students will cover:

  • Comprehensive Integration of Clinical Judgment
  • Foundations of Medicine
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Getting into Residency
  • USMLE Step 1 Review Course
  • OSCE Exam

USMLE Review Course – Xavier University School of Medicine and Kaplan have partnered to offer students with United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) review programs and resources. Kaplan’s USMLE review programs are tailored to meet the needs of MD6 students and help prepare them for USMLE success. Kaplan’s live online review classes for Step 1 provide real-time, online virtual learning. Students receive over 275 hours of live online lectures, an additional 30 hours of live online integrated cases, access to Kaplan’s interactive series of eBooks and question bank, NBME exam assessments, as well as diagnostic and simulated exams. This course is completed on campus in Aruba.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) examination – The student’s history taking and clinical examination skills are assessed through OSCE examination. OSCE aims to assimilate new methods and sharpen the student’s history taking skills, including all the aspects of chief complaint/presenting problem, history of present illness, past medical history, family and social history, review of systems, and mental status exam. OSCE also aims in assessing the student’s clinical examination skills that the student’s should possess for smooth transition from basic sciences to clinical science. It is mandatory for students to pass OSCE component separately for them to pass MD6. Students who FAIL in OSCE will have to retake and pass it on other given dates.