During the undergraduate phase, PLME students are encouraged to fully embrace Brown’s Open Curriculum, crafting individualized academic plans that reflect their intellectual passions. While students have the freedom to explore diverse disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities and arts, they are also expected to complete foundational coursework in key preclinical subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics or statistics, and the behavioral and social sciences. Strong oral and written communication skills are also emphasized as essential tools for future physicians.

Students work closely with a dedicated team of PLME advising deans to ensure that their Educational Plans fulfill both the program’s requirements and their personal aspirations. This support system fosters deep engagement in writing, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary inquiry, ensuring that students are well prepared for the medical curriculum and for meaningful careers in medicine.

The medical school phase begins with the Pre-Clerkship curriculum, an integrated sequence combining basic science education with early clinical exposure. Students begin their training with the Integrated Medical Sciences (IMS) courses and Doctoring, which develop clinical reasoning and patient interaction skills. This phase concludes with the Clinical Skills Clerkship, an intensive experience that prepares students for the clinical rotations ahead.

From the start of medical school, students are also introduced to the Scholarly Concentrations Program, an optional four-year opportunity to pursue focused scholarship in an area of personal interest. This program encourages students to engage in research, advocacy, service, or interdisciplinary study beyond the core medical curriculum.

In the third and fourth years of the program, students enter the Clerkship phase, where they gain hands-on clinical experience across a range of medical specialties. These full-time rotations take place in affiliated hospitals and clinical sites, offering students deep immersion in real-world medical practice. In addition to required clerkships, students have opportunities to pursue electives in clinical medicine at Brown, at partner institutions, or through approved off-site preceptorships. Students may also submit Independent Study proposals, enabling them to undertake research or clinical projects under the mentorship of Brown faculty. This flexibility allows students to tailor their clinical education to their interests, whether in academic medicine, global health, community care, or other specialized fields.

Medical Education at The Warren Alpert Medical School