Appendix A: Glossary of terms

This glossary includes words you’ll likely hear from your student during the next four years. We hope this helps you understand their experience and supports your connection during medical school.

Phase 1: The first 18 months of medical school, when students study things like basic science and develop clinical skills.

Case-based learning (CBL): Teams of about 8 students analyze real patient cases, learning how to apply classroom knowledge to patient care.

Flipped classroom: Students watch videos before class, so they’re ready for classroom discussion.

Imposter syndrome (imposter phenomenon): Feelings of doubt in one’s abilities, feelings of being a fraud or not deserving what one worked for, despite being very capable.

Longitudinal Clinical Experience (LCE): LCE pairs students with Geisinger Primary Care doctors for hands-on learning.

Physician and Patient Centered Care (PPCC): In this course, students learn how to communicate with patients and take good notes.

Standardized patient (SP): This is a person paid to act as a patient to help students learn basic patientcare skills.

STEP 1: USMLE Step 1 is an 8-hours exam that tests students’ science knowledge. It’s the first standardized test required for medical licensure.

United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE): This is a three-step examination that students must pass to be licensed in the United States. The first two exams are typically taken during medical school and results are shared with prospective residency programs. The third exam is usually completed after graduation from medical school. Exams are often referred to as “Step.”

Workshop/Integrated Science Course (ISC): Groups of 3 to 5 students work together to solve questions based on their course material and present their answers in class.

Phase 2: Also called Core Clinical Immersion, this is the third year of medical school. Students learn about multiple disciplines over 13 months. Required rotations at Geisinger Commonwealth include internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology and ambulatory medicine.

Attending physician/preceptor: A fully trained doctor who oversees medical teams, including medical students and residents.

Bridge week: A week of preparation between rotations and clerkships.

Chief/chief resident: A senior resident overseeing other residents and medical students.

EMR: Electronic Medical Record, where patient health information is kept.

Inpatient care: Medical care provided in a hospital.

Intern: A first-year resident.

Outpatient care: Medical care provided outside of hospitals.

Residency: A post-medical school training program (3 to 7 years) where graduates receive specialized training in their chosen medical field. Also known as graduate medical education (GME).

Resident: A post-graduate doctor receiving special training in their chosen medical field.

Rotations/clerkships: Hospital and office-based training periods for students under physician supervision, involving patient care, note-writing and more.

Shelf exam: Formally known as the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exam, these subject exams (~3 hours) are taken by students at the end of each rotation/ clerkship.

Specialty: A medical field in which a physician specializes, such as pediatrics, surgery, dermatology or psychiatry.

STEP 2: USMLE Step 2 is a 9-hour exam that tests clinical knowledge, including medical treatments, medications and diseases/conditions. Scores are shared with prospective residency programs.

Phase 3: Also known as Career Differentiation and Exploration, this traditional fourth year of medical school covers emergency medicine and critical care medicine. Students can also explore electives over 15 months.

Away rotation: Rotation within the student's intended specialty that allow them to explore programs that interest them.

Match Day: On the third Friday in March, students learn where they've been placed for residency training, often celebrated with family and friends during an envelopeopening ceremony.

The Match: Formally known as the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Students are matched to residency programs.