This year as well, Heidelberg medical students achieved the best preliminary examination results. The results for the country as a whole have now been announced by the Institut für Medizinische und Pharmazeutische Prüfungsfragen (IMPP = Institute for Medical and Pharmaceutical Examination Questions). On average, 72.7 per cent of the questions were answered correctly by the 372 Heidelberg preclinical students in the multiple-choice examination, who thus came first in a national comparison. The national average was 67.4 per cent. Only 7.5 per cent of the Heidelberg students failed to reached the limit for passing the exam. In this respect, Heidelberg came second after Rostock (5.9 per cent).

Preclinical medical studies include classes in six subjects: anatomy, physiology, chemistry/biochemistry, biology, physics and medical psychology/sociology.

Since the Winter semester in 2003/2003, medical students in Heidelberg have been studying according to the innovative Heicumed preclinical curriculum. There are interdisciplinary seminars and lectures which focus on organ systems and are already aligned to the clinical way of thinking. Additional courses such as ultrasonics for students and interns working for doctors with their own practice form a bridge to later clinical training.

"The always outstanding results of our students in the preliminary examination this year and in previous years shows that the re-designed Heicumed preclinical curriculum is an optimal way of preparing medical students for the exam. Moreover, Heidelberg offers students a very high chance of being able to pass the preliminary examination after only four semesters", declared Professor Dr. Franz Resch, deacon of the medical faculty in Heidelberg. In all subjects apart from physics, the Heidelberg students did the best. On a national scale, they came second in the rankings in physics.

Source: idw