Learning Communities
Guiding Principles of the Learning Communities
Mission of the Learning Communities
The Houses
Within the MD Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, learning communities - also known as the "houses" - offer opportunities for medical students to connect with their peers, students in other classes and disciplines and faculty during their medical education.
The learning communities are designed to open up new possibilities for formal and informal learning, interaction and socialization.
Upon entering the medical school, students are randomly assigned to one of the five houses:
Each house is named for a prominent physician in the history of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Each house includes 130 students from all four medical school classes, so students not only have an identity as a member of their class, they will also get to know students from other classes who are members of their house.
The learning communities are designed to foster community, leadership, professionalism, well-being and the sharing of knowledge in order to develop more intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally prepared physicians. This mission is achieved through the following objectives:
- Provide opportunities for peer and professional mentoring and career guidance
- Promote the skills and attitudes of professionalism
- Develop opportunities for emotional and personal support through social and recreational opportunities
- Foster development of cross-discipline relationships and interactions
Each house plans activities according to the interests of its members and the mission of the learning communities. The Interhouse Council provides leadership, planning of events and coordinates all-house activities such as the House Cup competition held every spring. Participation in house-sponsored activities is voluntary.
The learning communities are located on the second floor of the Health Sciences Learning Center.
Each community has a suite of four rooms: a large classroom, two medium classrooms and a small break room with a refrigerator and microwave. A small but comfortable open lounge area is adjacent to the break room, overlooking the atrium. Student lockers and mailboxes for first- and second-year students line the halls nearby.