Third, the College recognizes the need to adopt a curriculum that reflects an effective approach to learning, especially the type of learning involved in the practice of osteopathic medicine. Finally, the College is committed to implementing a curriculum that reflects the osteopathic holistic philosophy as, the PCC has been designed to integrate, not only the whole spectrum of medical knowledge and practice, but also the idea of preparing a life-long learning professional. The cornerstone of the PCC is the problem-based approach to learning. In traditional medical education, student learning is structured around subject areas in which most of instruction is provided through lectures, especially regarding the basic medical sciences. The problem-based approach advocates that learning occurs best when associated with concrete clinical problems.
Students explore the basic science content by discussing and hypothesizing about clinical problems.
The rationale is that the objective of medical education is to prepare physicians who are able to evaluate and manage patients with medical problems effectively, efficiently, and humanely. 1 Immersing students in clinical problems from the beginning offers a more logical approach to emulate and develop the types of skills, attitudes, and applied knowledge that will help physicians accomplish the goals of their medical education. 4.The content of medicine though important is too vast to be effectively taught by formal means of lectures and compartmentalized courses. A second characteristic of the PCC is that it is a primary care curriculum track. This emphasis addresses not only the current concerns and needs for primary care physicians in the country, but also the development of an educational approach that fosters a generalist style in medical thinking and practice.