The Biomedical Science component of the curriculum is completed in March. Students then sit for the USMLE Step 1 Exam prior to beginning the clinical curriculum
Third Year - Clinical Rotations (Begins in May)
Students proceed directly into the Third Year Clinical Clerkships upon successful completion of the Biomedical Sciences, and having taken the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. Students need to have fulfilled all additional requirements for entering the clinical environment, i.e., immunizations, Tb skin test, VAMC onboarding, HIPAA and BLS certificate, electronic medical record training and credentialing, etc.
Students begin the third year with a week-long Principles of Clinical Medicine block that focuses on providing clinical skills essential to success in the third year clerkships. These clerkships provide a breadth of clinical experiences in the major care areas. Students become an integral part of the health-care team in an academic setting involving both house staff and faculty as well as ancillary services of the teaching hospitals. Programs are available in facilities in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson, and Nashville.
In addition, third year medical students will have the opportunity to take six weeks of career exploration electives to assist them in making important career decisions. Two of these six weeks may be used as option weeks. Also, two Longitudinal Scholars Program (LSP) courses are required in the third year. One scheduled in the Fall and one in the Spring term.

