Principles of Medicine is a series of courses that span the Foundations phase of the MD program curriculum. These courses provide an integrated curriculum of health systems science and the art of medicine to ensure a competent and compassionate physician that serves patients, families, and society.

It is the goal of Principles of Medicine to present content that complements and fosters integration of learners' developing knowledge of science, medicine, and medical practice. The content of this course includes several dimensions of health systems science which includes the practice of medicine, medical systems, and the impact of society on health outcomes. The course is organized using the following curricular threads:
- Biomedical informatics
- Cultural humility and social determinants
- Evidence-based practice
- Health care policy
- Leadership skills/advocacy
- Medical ethics and humanities and law
- Population health/preventive medicine
- Quality improvement/patient safety
- Wellness
Content on the USMLE Step 1 includes many topics covered in Principles of Medicine, including social sciences, ethics, jurisprudence, communication, interpersonal skills, health literacy, use of an interpreter, legal issues, the physician-patient relationship, HIPAA, systems-based practice, patient safety, quality improvement, and population health.