Preclinical Education (Years 1 and 2)
Heritage College's Preclinical Education program (years 1 and 2) is structured to prepare students for their clinical education in years 3 and 4, as well as graduate medical education in residency and beyond.
Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum
Heritage College and the Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum commits to provide a clinically integrated, learning-centered, osteopathic medical education continuum for students, interns, residents and primary care associates; embrace diversity and public service; and improve the health and well-being of underserved populations.
All Heritage College medical students begin their medical education with Osteopathic Approach to Patient Care 1, which focuses on wellness. Each week, students are provided with learning objectives, outcomes and preparatory materials to direct study, activate prior experience and knowledge, and identify areas for growth. Educational topics to be emphasized are identified and presented via a patient case, and guide the integrated learning activities throughout the week. Activities include integrated learning labs, osteopathic patient care skills, simulated experiences and early clinical experiences. A reporting phase will allow for reflection and assimilation in a small group format.
Transformative Care Continuum
To meet the growing need for primary care physicians and to provide the best care for patients, the Heritage College and Cleveland Clinic are transforming medical education. Together, we are responding to rapid and dramatic changes in health care delivery with our own dramatic changes to the way physicians are trained. The Transformative Care Continuum is an accelerated demonstration project, from medical school through residency, with deep experiences with patients and health care delivery teams at its foundation. The program's first cohort of students started in August 2018 and are scheduled to complete residency in 2024.
Undergraduate Fellowship Opportunities
Primary Care Associateship
Primary Care Associates spend an additional year on their medical education, during which time they are teaching, tutoring and mentoring first- and second-year medical students; enriching their clinical skills and experiences in primary care and osteopathic manipulative medicine clinics; and developing a scholarly project for publication and/or presentation at a national conference.
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Associateship
This fellowship further develops OMM skills and has prepared past participants for careers as OMM specialists for academic medicine. OMM associates receive fee waivers, tuition waivers and a stipend for their efforts.
Research and Scholarly Advancement Fellowship
Under the guidance of the mentor, students conduct intensive, short-term (10-week) research projects in selected areas of basic, primary care, medical education or clinical investigation. Students will attend a core curriculum consisting of seminars on broad topics in medical research. They will complete a poster describing their research to be presented after the conclusion of the summer program.