Mission and Vision

Vision

“We have laid our foundation: Now we will rise and grow beyond.”

#growbeyond

As we imagine Xavier’s future, the new building was key, and we began the Vision Statement with a metaphorical nod to the potential that construction holds for our medical school’s growth. We acknowledge the 15 years of hard work that has given Xavier a foundation to achieve unprecedented growth in the future. The theme of “grow beyond” guided our development of Strategic Priorities and goals.

MD Program Educational Objectives and Learning Objectives

The faculty members have characterized the XUSOM core competencies of the graduates in six domains corresponding to competency domains described by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. The MD program educational objectives were formulated to align with XUSOM physician competencies. The specific program learning objectives incorporates all of the objectives and outcomes identified by the faculty as particularly relevant for the XUSOM graduates.

The faculty of Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba prepares its students to possess the knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors appropriate and necessary to be successful and empathetic physicians. At the time of graduation, it is expected that each graduate will have demonstrated competency in each of the following program learning objectives:

The Science and Practice of Medicine

Apply scientific principles and knowledge for effective patient care

• Apply scientific principles and a multidisciplinary body of scientific knowledge to the diagnosis, management, and prevention of clinical, epidemiologic, social and behavioral problems in patient care and related disciplines.
• Recognize the variation in the expression of health and disease through critical evaluation of both patients and the scientific literature
• Apply knowledge of study design and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness

Clinical Competence

Use own learned knowledge, research, and proper technology to treat patients

• Assemble the obtained medical knowledge to apply basic facts, concepts, and principles to competent medical practice
• Demonstrate the highest level of efficiency in data gathering, organization, interpretation and clinical decision making in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of disease
• Communicate effectively using caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients, families and members of the health care team
• Perform all technical procedures accurately and completely, to the extent considered essential for the area of practice and level of education
• Apply the knowledge of information technology into appropriate use in medical practice
• Effectively use the resources of the entire health care team in treating disease, preventing future health problems and maintaining the health of individuals

The Social Context of Medicine

Display an understanding of how social, behavioral, and economic factors can influence health and the health care system

• Identify and respond to factors that influence the social, behavioral, and economical factors in health, disease and medical care working to be able to provide care that is of optimal value.
• Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
• Relate to the complexities of the entire health care practice and delivery system, managers, payers, providers, organizations and bureaucracy in defining access, cost, value and outcomes

Communication

Explain and share information with patients, their families, and fellow team members

• Demonstrate effective and compassionate interpersonal communication skills toward patients and families necessary to form and sustain effective medical care. or
• Present information and ideas in an organized and clear manner to educate or inform patients, families, colleagues and community
• Understand the complexity of communication including non-verbal, explanatory, questioning and writing in a culturally appropriate context

Professionalism

Judge situations in an ethical and critical manner to ensure that the correct steps are taken in each case

• Display the personal attributes of compassion, honesty and integrity in relationship with patients, families, and the medical community.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards of judgment, conduct and accountability as each applies to the health care milieu.
• Demonstrate a critical self-appraisal in his/her knowledge and practice of medicine, as well as received and give constructive appraisal to/from patients, families, colleagues and other healthcare professionals
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices
• Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities

Lifelong Learning

Actively pursue new knowledge even when deep into a career

• Identify the limits of personal knowledge and experience and demonstrate the intellectual curiosity to actively pursue the acquisition of new scientific and clinical knowledge and skills necessary to refine and improve his/her medical practice, assure excellent care of patients, or to contribute to the scientific body of medical knowledge throughout a career.
• Qualify in analyzing practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology
• Identify methods to obtain and use information about their own population of patients and the larger population from which their patients are drawn