How does the LIC UW/H work?
The LIC UW/H begins with a team-building week and two skills weeks, during which students learn the most important clinical skills needed to actively participate in patient care. They then spend one week each observing in the departments where they will be providing care—Internal Medicine, Surgery, General Practice, and Emergency Medicine—to familiarize themselves with procedures, tasks, and teams.
So what happens next?
This is followed by the actual Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: Over a period of five months, students are continuously involved in patient care—both at Herdecke Community Hospital (internal medicine, surgery, emergency room) and in general practice offices in the region (Witten, Wetter, Herdecke, Bochum). Throughout the entire LIC period, students work closely with their physicians and the respective teams. This enables students to build meaningful relationships and take on more responsibility. By providing extended care to patients across departmental boundaries, students develop lasting relationships and gain a deeper understanding of patient-centered care. Alongside this, case-based instruction in clinical and theoretical subjects takes place: learning through their own patient cases, rather than through a “rigid” curriculum. Communication, reflection, and personal development are integral parts of the LIC curriculum—as is the “transformative literacy” seminar, which teaches change management skills for the healthcare system: How do I navigate change within a rigid system like the healthcare system? During the 6th semester, students return to the university’s standard academic program.
Students as Active Participants in Health Care
Responsibility from the very beginning
In a traditional medical program, students typically observe—at the LIC, they take on responsibility. They are actively involved in patient care and accompany “their” patients over an extended period of time, across specialties and settings—from primary care practices to hospitals.
A flexible weekly schedule allows them to pursue individual learning goals while remaining consistently available to patients. In the process, students acquire not only medical expertise but also key skills such as communication, teamwork, interprofessional collaboration, and time management. As “Co-Creators of Change,” they help shape the LIC: they contribute their own perspectives, develop theoretical frameworks, and participate in the ongoing refinement of the curriculum.
A typical LIC moment
An LIC student from the first cohort shared a story about a typical LIC moment at the LIC Café, a specially designed event where students, faculty, and participating physicians exchange ideas.
“I remember a special LIC moment that was a real win-win for both sides: A 75-year-old woman who had previously lived completely independently was admitted to the Herdecke Community Hospital due to increasing weakness in her daily life and chest pain. As part of my clinical rotation, I was able to conduct a detailed medical history and physical examination. I suspected heart failure associated with coronary artery disease. I accompanied her to further tests—from transesophageal echocardiography to cardiac catheterization—and was able to explain each step to her calmly and in detail. Especially before the upcoming coronary angiography, which she was very afraid of, it was important to me to explain the procedure and the findings to her clearly and patiently, in addition to what the doctors were telling her. Through visits and phone calls, I was able to build the trust she needed.
As a LIC student, this experience was incredibly valuable to me: I was able to gain firsthand insight into the clinical picture, the various therapies, and diagnostic procedures, and gain valuable practical experience. It was a true win-win—while the patient found a reliable companion in me, I was able to deepen my skills and learn what it truly means to be there for a patient with compassion. In addition, the patient now attends quarterly follow-up appointments at the cardiology clinic, and as an LIC student, I will accompany her to those appointments as well.”