Practical Training

Practical training constitutes mandatory and essential element of academic programs within any educational institutions, particularly in the context of medical universities. YSMU clinics, polyclinics, dental cabinets, and chair laboratories serve the base for students’ practical training. Moreover, to organize the practical training effectively, contracts are signed with various medical institutions across different regions in Armenia and Yerevan. The practice manager appointed by the directors of the respective institutions is responsible for welcoming and coordinating students undergoing practical training at respective institution as well as supervising the process of the practical training by maintaining contact with university’s practical training department. If necessary, the practice manager addresses and resolves various issues that may arise during the course of the practical training.

Summer practical trainings are conducted during the spring semester, beginning the week following the main examination period, and adhere to a predetermined schedule. In the 4^th and 5^th years practice courses are also organized during the semester alongside relevant professional courses. Students undergoing practical training receive a practice report sheet in advance from the practical training department which outlines the medical procedures and measures that the student is required to participate in or personally perform during the practical training. Upon the conclusion of the practical training, each student submits their individual report sheet. The sheet must be fully completed and approved by the supervisor for practice in the clinic. Based on the latter, the student is assessed as “passed” and earns corresponding credits.

If a student wishes to pursue practice abroad during the designated year, as aligned by the curriculum, they can do so providing they have a suitable agreement with the host institution. In these cases, the YSMU training department issues the student an individual report sheet, which must be completed and sealed upon the conclusion of the practice. Upon submission of the completed report sheet, the student is assessed as “passed” and earns corresponding credits.

At YSMU, practice courses are integrated into the academic programs of the General Medicine, Stomatology and Pharmacy faculties starting from the second year of the study.

“General Medicine” academic program

Practical Training:

During the practical training the student become familiar with the structure of outpatient clinics and hospitals, gaining insights into various hospital departments (bookkeeping department, reception, manipulation cabinets and various professional laboratories), the student also learns and assimilates the interventions performed by the medical staff, get acquainted with the responsibilities of a family doctor, and under the direct supervision and guidance of a physician examines therapeutic, obstetric, gynecological, and pediatric patients. Тhey become involved in evaluating research results, making diagnoses, recording preliminary findings, developing treatment plans, and formulating medical documents.

“Stomatology” academic program

Practical Training:

During their educational training, students become acquainted with the structure of dental polyclinics, their equipment and the organisation of various functions within cabinets. Along with getting acquainted with the therapeutic and preventive work of conservative dentist, dental surgeon, pediatric dentist, orthodontic dentist and prosthodontist, students acquire and enhance practical skills using dental training manikins, dental simulators and phantoms (tooth cavity preparation, filling techniques, grinding and polishing, teeth grinding to make different types of crowns and bridges, tooth impression taking and teeth wax modelling, etc.)

“Pharmacy” academic programs

Undergraduate students of Pharmacy faculty undergo the practical training within laboratory facilities of specialized departments, and pharmacies. Additionally, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by exploring herbal resources in the botanical garden in Yerevan and various regions of the Republic of Armenia.

Practical training:

During the semester of the fourth year of their bachelor’s degree program at the Faculty of Pharmacy, students participate in practical trainings for subjects such as “Pharmaceutical Management and Economy” (1 week), “Pharmaceutical Technology” (2 weeks), and “Pharmaceutical Chemistry” (1 week). As part of their master’s degree program, students also engage in a one-week practice on “Resourceology of Medicinal Plants” within a course.

During the practical training student learn to identify medicinal plant species in different medicinal combinations, distinguish herbs in the wild nature, conduct herbarization processes of plants, and become proficient in the methods of drying, primary processing, and preservation of herbal raw materials under storage conditions. Additionally, pharmacy students, as part of their training, engage in the measurement and dosing of medicines based on mass, volume, and drops. They also learn the preparation of powders, concentrated solutions, liquid dosage forms, suspensions, ointments, and suppositories using different recipes. Students also learn to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms within laboratory settings.