The Interdisciplinary Generalist Curriculum Project at Eastern Virginia Medical School

The proposed Interdisciplinary Generalist Curriculum (IGC) Project at Eastern Virginia Medical School (hereafter Eastern Virginia) intended to encourage students to select generalist disciplines by featuring generalist role models, focusing on patients' perspectives, teaching generalist skills early, providing care to indigent and other populations, and emphasizing students' personal and professional development. To do so, Eastern Virginia proposed that collaborative interdisciplinary groups of faculty plan and oversee the implementation of first- and second-year students' early clinical experiences in generalists' offices as integrated with new and revised first- and second-year courses, the coordination of generalist curricula longitudinally from year one through year four, and the provision of appropriate faculty development. With minor exceptions described, the project was implemented as proposed. The project did have desirable effects, both intended and unexpected. The curricular changes made in the project will remain.