MSPE Medical School Information
Medical School Name 
The University of Queensland Medical School
Faculty of Medicine, Mayne Medical School
288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
Special programmatic emphases, strengths, mission/goal(s) of the medical school:
Mission
The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Medicine works in partnership with the health system to provide world-class accredited medical education, underpinned by lifelong learning skills, our leading researches, and our contribution to innovative best practice in clinical services. We do this for the benefit of all members of our community in Queensland, Australia, and the world.
Ochsner Clinical School is the first and only clinical school in the United States in partnership with The University of Queensland (UQ). Since 2009, this exceptional and unique program has provided the opportunity for outstanding medical students who are United States citizens to obtain an integrated, global medical education on two continents. Students take two preclinical years in Brisbane. In the third and fourth years, students attend the UQ-Ochsner Clinical School at Ochsner Health (OH) in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they pursue their clinical placements, guided by a clinical faculty that has been training medical students, residents, and fellows for more than 75 years. OH is an integrated independent academic health system. OH operates 31 ACGME-accredited residency programs in addition to robust research programs in basic science/translational, clinical, and health services research.
Program outline
The curriculum has been designed with an emphasis on problem-based learning and group work. Students work cooperatively on a carefully planned series of patient-centered problems, each designed to highlight principles and issues in health and disease. Early patient contact and clinical training develop high levels of clinical skill and medical knowledge.
Special characteristics of the medical school’s educational program
The program’s key features include: the simultaneous learning of basic, clinical, biological and social sciences; the teaching of communication skills; the use of learning approaches that encourage lifelong learning skills; the incorporation of ethics and professional development as an integral part of the program; and the incorporation of information technology and computing skills to ensure that graduates are able to utilize technological advances to improve their learning skills and knowledge acquisition.
Average length of enrollment (initial matriculation to graduation) at the medical school
Four (4) years
Description of the evaluation system used at the medical school
The University of Queensland uses a seven-level Likert-type item system when assessing student performance. In this system, all assessment components are individually appraised according to a set of dimensions and accompanying criteria that describe the core competencies. The seven levels of standards are as follows:
7 – Exemplary/Proficient
6 – Satisfactory
5 – Capable
4 – Adequate
3 – Limited
2 – Rudimentary/unsafe
1 – Unacceptable/very unsafe
The Standards Distribution Rule for the determination of the overall placement standard takes into account the distribution of standards achieved by a student on the four assessment components.
Medical School requirement for successful completion of USMLE Step 1, 2:
USMLE Step 1: Not required
USMLE Step 2: Not required
Medical School requirements for successful completion of Objective/Observed Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) at medical school:
OSCEs are used for:
- Final assessment for Year 2;
- Assessment items in the following clerkships: Medicine; Psychiatry (Mental Health); General Practice (Primary Care); Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Paediatrics; and
- Final summative assessment for Year 4.
Utilization of the course, clerkship or elective director’s narrative comments in the composition of the MSPE:
The narrative comments contained in the MSPE can best be described as:
Direct quotations from supervisors, where available, or summaries of supervisor comments, along with overall clinical assessments and exam results.
The final descriptive adjective in the Summary of the MSPE is based on the following levels within the cohort:
- Superior (top quartile)
- Outstanding (second quartile)
- Excellent (third quartile)
- Very Good (fourth quartile)
Utilization by medical school of the AAMC “Guidelines for Medical Schools Regarding Academic Transcripts”:
This medical school is:
Completely in compliance with the Guidelines’ recommendations.
Description of the process by which the MSPE is composed at the medical school (including the number of personnel involved in composition of the MSPE)
The MSPE was compiled by the Director of Medical Education of the Ochsner Clinical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Third and fourth year comments for placements were entered by the clerkship coordinators for the disciplines. Noteworthy characteristics were obtained from each student and discussed during a face-to-face interview with the student's medical society head (academic advisor).
Students are permitted to review the MSPE prior to its transmission:
Yes