A group of students posing for standing photo with white coats and masks

Introduction to Clinical Medicine, The Covid cohort

All MEMP students must complete:

  • Biomedical Sciences Core Requirements
  • Biomedical Sciences Restricted Electives
  • Clinical Coursework Requirements

Biomedical Sciences Core Requirements

  • Human Pathology (HST030/031 or HST034/035)
  • Molecular Genetics in Modern Medicine (HST160/161)
  • Cardiovascular Pathophysiology (HST090/091)

Biomedical Sciences Restricted Electives

Two full courses required*

  • Human Functional Anatomy (HST010/011)
  • Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology (HST020/021)*
  • Respiratory Pathophysiology (HST100/101)**
  • Renal Pathophysiology (HST110/111)**
  • Neuroscience (HST130/131)
  • Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics (HST162/163) *
  • Principles of Biomedical Imaging (HST164/HST165)*
  • Cellular and Molecular Immunology (HST175/176)

*  May combine two half-courses to count as one full course
** Must choose at least one of HST100, HST110

Clinical Coursework Requirements

All MEMP students must complete the clinical core requirement with one of the following options:

Option 1, two-part series:

  • HST201: Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering I
  • HST202: Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering II

HST201W and HST202W are offered at the West Roxbury Veteran's Administration Hospital. HST201M and HST202M are offered at Mt. Auburn Hospital. Students selecting Option 1 must complete both HST201 and HST202 at a single location.

Option 2:

  • HST207 Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Medical Engineering

HST.207 is offered at Massachusetts General Hospital followed by sessions at MIT.

CORI check

Massachusetts State law requires that a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) background check be conducted on any individual working in a health care facility who has access to confidential patient records or is in contact with children. Upon matriculation, each MEMP student must complete a CORI Acknowledgement Form and Candidate Information Sheet which HST will transmit to the HMS Registrar’s Office. Students who do not submit these forms will be ineligible to participate in the MEMP clinical coursework requirements – and therefore will be unable to complete the requirements to earn a MEMP degree.

  • The HMS Registrar’s Office will receive the results of the background check.
  • If no criminal record is found, that information will be shared with the HST Academic Office and any clinical sites where the student is hosted during their training.
  • In the event that a criminal record is found, the HMS Registrar’s Office will notify HST of its existence, and HST will advise any relevant clinical affiliates that they need to conduct their own CORI check on that student.

Attendance and Participation Expectations

The HST program is cognizant of completing demands on a student's time. Students need to be aware of the culture and expectations that differ between institutions. When MEMP students are enrolled in classes at HMS, there is an expectation that they will be present, on time, and prepared for class. It is explicitly noted that if a student must miss any session, he/she will exercise good judgment in that decision and will notify the faculty member in charge in advance of the absence. This is not to request permission, rather to acknowledge that as a close-knit community, such notification is the responsible, courteous, and collegial thing to do.

Grading for Biomedical Sciences Classes

Biomedical Sciences Core Requirements and Restricted Electives are graded with an internal grade and a narrative evaluation. The internal grades are then translated to the MIT transcript as described below.

Internal Grades

E: Excellent; S: Satisfactory; M: Marginal Pass; U: Unsatisfactory

  • E & S: are recorded as a "P" (Pass) on the MIT transcript.
  • M: is recorded as a "P" (Pass) on the MIT transcript and and flagged for review of academic progress.
  • U: is recorded as a "F" (Fail) on the MIT transcript and flagged for review of academic progress.

Narrative Evaluations

Narrative evaluations are available for students to pick up in the IMES/HST Academic Office, typically six weeks after the end of the term. These evaluations are also distributed to Academic Advisors in their registration materials for the subsequent term.