MED 5710 Patient I
Phase 1, Class of 2026
Fall 2022

Assessment Plan
 
The assessment plan sets out the principles and key elements used to assess the learner’s performance in an accurate, consistent, and objective manner for MED 5710 Patient I.
 
MED 5710 Patient I introduces learners to themes integrating physician competencies and clinical skills with basic and clinical sciences as they relate to common clinical encounters and patient symptoms. Learners will begin to examine their future roles as professionals in our health care system.

COURSE SUCCESS CRITERIA
 
To pass the course, a learner must:    

• Pass at least three of the four written examinations,
• Achieve an average mark of  ≥70 based on the weighted final marks across the four examinations and Anatomy Portfolio,
• Complete and submit all assessments by their due date, and
• Attend all sessions designated as mandatory and complete any associated activities.

Exam and assignment deferrals will only be approved by the Phase Lead under exceptional circumstances, see Exam Deferral Policy.

Promotion regulations:

• Even if a learner has passed all examinations and assignments, a learner may be required to repeat the Phase or withdraw conditionally or unconditionally from the program (see Memorial University Calendar Regulation 10.5 Promotion) if there are significant concerns about a learner’s performance (as communicated to the learner by the Phase Lead). Examples may include, but are not limited to, late assignments and missed mandatory sessions without proper deferral process, lapses in professionalism, recurrent reassessment exams.
• As outlined in Section 10.5.2 of the Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine in the University calendar, learners with a Fail grade in any course cannot be promoted to the next Phase.
• As outlined in the MD program objectives, the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University values professionalism as a core competency and a requirement of the MD program. Recognizing that medical learners are developing their professional identity, professionalism lapses will be remediated where possible and appropriate. Unsuccessful remediation will result in failure of the Phase. Professionalism lapses may render a learner incompatible with continuation in the MD program (as outline in the Memorial University Calendar Regulation 10.5 Promotion).

COURSE ASSESSMENT
 
Learners will be assessed with both formative and summative assessment methods throughout the course. Learners will receive their grades from the Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) office via One45.
 
Formative assessments do not count towards the final grade and are intended to help learners monitor their learning.  Formative assessment will consist of weekly online quizzes, practice timed lab exam stations with formative short answer questions, self-assessment and verbal feedback from instructors. Learners are also expected to review and learn from their performance on the summative assessments that occur throughout the course. The process for review of summative examinations is detailed in the Summative Assessment Procedure for Phases 1-3.

Summative assessments include four on-line written multiple-choice question (MCQ) examinations, following each of the four themes and the Anatomy Portfolio. Each of these summative assessments is graded and contributes to the final summative mark that the learner will receive for the course.

The course includes mandatory learning sessions, listed in the respective section below. Learners must participate in these sessions and complete any associated exercises. As outlined in the Protected Time and Duty Hours Policy, learners may request leave if they are unable to attend a mandatory learning session. 
 
The contribution of marks from each summative assessment towards the final course grade is as follows:

Examination 1: Introductions and Foundations	24%
Examination 2: Blood Flow and Oxygenation I	20%
Examination 3: Blood Flow and Oxygenation II	26%
Examination 4: Host Defence and Immune Mediated Disorders	19%
Anatomy Portfolio	11%
Total	100%

The final grade and overall course mark will be compiled at the end of the Phase. If the Burr method is used to determine the pass mark for a summative examination, the percent-correct score for each learner will be converted to a scaled score. For the scaled score, the pass mark as determined by the Burr method is set to 70 and percent-correct scores are converted using linear transformation. Scaled scores will then be used to calculate the overall course mark. 
 
(a) Summative written examinations will occur on the following dates:
 

Block	Hours	Exam Date	Reassessment Date
Examination 1: Introductions and Foundations	27	October 3, 2022	October 13, 2022
Examination 2: Blood Flow and Oxygentation I	21.5	October 24, 2022	November 8, 2022
Examination 3: Blood Flow and Oxygenation II	29.0	November 21, 2022	December 1, 2022
Examination 4: Host Defence and Immune Mediated Disorders	21.0	December 12, 2022	January 6, 2023

Note: Learners who are required to reassess for examination 4 must be available on January 6, 2023 for the reassessment examination. If not available on this date, learners must apply for a deferral to write the reassessment at a later date.
 
Learners achieving a percent-correct score of 70% or higher on a written summative examination will receive a pass. If one or more learners achieve a percent-correct score of less than 70% on a summative written examination, the pass mark for the examination will be determined using the Burr method¹. Using this approach, the upper limit of the pass mark is set to the median percent-correct score of the class minus 10%, or 70%, whichever is lower. The pass mark is identified by applying this upper limit to the cumulative frequency curve of the achieved percent-correct scores of the class.


(b) Anatomy Portfolio

An Anatomy portfolio will be used to assess learners for the Anatomy lab sessions (Thorax Labs 1 & 2, Abdomen Labs 1 & 2). The portfolio consists of a practical exam:

• Learners will complete a timed ‘bell-ringer’ style station-based exam to assess the learning objectives of the Thorax and Abdomen lab sessions. Learners will answer short answer questions to identify anatomical structures at each station, utilizing various anatomical specimens (e.g., wet and plastinated specimens, bones, cadaveric structures). The pass mark for the practical exam will be determined using the standard setting method as outlined above.
  Date for practical exam: November 4, 2022.
  Reassessment date: November 17, 2022.

Mandatory Learning Sessions
Mandatory learning sessions are defined as sessions that require learners to attend in order to achieve the learning objectives. Sessions are designated mandatory if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Provide an introduction or overview of learner expectations for the MD program, phase or course;
• Involve application of clinical decision-making skills such as tutorials, case-based learning and laboratories; 
• Include an assessment component;
• Involve interactivity such as integrated learning sessions, interprofessional education sessions, guest speakers or patient volunteers; and/or
• Provide support and/or counseling to promote learner well-being and success.

Mandatory Learning Session	Date
Introduction to Anatomy: Anatomical Terminology and Orientation	All as scheduled on Brightspace
Thorax Lab 1: Thoracic Wall, Regions and Pleural Cavity
Thorax Lab 2: The Mediastinum, Heart and Vasculature
Abdomen Lab 1: Anterolateral Abdominal Wall, Peritoneum and Viscera
Abdomen 2 Lab: Abdominal Viscera, Retroperitoneal Space and Posterior Abdominal Wall
Case Study 1: Diagnostic Enzymology
Case Study 2: Glycogen Storage Defect
Case Study 3: Abnormal Lipids
Case Study 4: Compromised Urea Cycle
Case Study 5: Energy Utilization During Exercise
Case Study 6: Metabolic Derangements in Diabetes
Introduction to PoCUS
Immune Cell Markers, Flow Cytometry and Blood Typing
Tetanus Tutorial
Hypersensitivity Reactions Tutorial
Physiology of the Cardiac Cycle Lab
Physiology of Blood Pressure Lab

REASSESSMENT
 

• Reassessment will be required if a learner achieves a mark <70% or, if applicable, less than the pass mark on any one of the four written summative examinations, Anatomy practical exam or other summative assessment.
• For the theme examinations, learners will write a reassessment MCQ examination.
• For the Anatomy Portfolio, learners will complete a reassessment of the relevant component (practical exam or presentation).
• Learners who fail a reassessment will be required to meet with the Phase Lead or a delegate, and the Learner Well-being Consultant if the learner so wishes, to support the learner’s academic needs.
• Learners who achieve less than 70% on two or more summative examinations will be notified and provided with academic success resources. The learner may meet with the Phase Lead or a delegate, and the Learner Well-being Consultant if the learner so wishes, to further support the learner’s academic needs.
• A learner may be reassessed for any failed assessment only once.
• The maximum mark for a reassessment is 70% or, if applicable, the Burr pass mark in the case of the written summative examinations.

 
LATE ASSESSMENTS

Learners may defer examinations or other summative assessments with prior approval from the Phase Lead through the deferred examination and assessment procedure. The  states “Learners seeking to defer a summative MCQ examination or other assessment must follow the Undergraduate Medical Education Deferred Examination Policy.” 

¹Burr, S.A., Whittle, J., Fairclough, L.C. et al. Modifying Hofstee standard setting for assessments that vary in difficulty, and to determine boundaries for different levels of achievement. BMC Med Educ 16, 34 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-016-0555-y


Version: August 22, 2022
Reviewed by SAS: May 25, 2022
Approved by UGMS: June 15, 2022