Biochemistry

Gross Anatomy/Embryology

The Human Medical Anatomy & Embryology course consists of lectures and labs devoted to the student's developing a three-dimensional image of the human body and how it develops. Lectures are followed by full dissection of the human cadaver in the gross anatomy laboratory. The following major topical areas are addressed: general anatomical concepts, applied anatomy, imaging anatomy, clinical anatomy, early embryogenesis and organogenesis & clinical embryology.

Histology

The Medical Histology course is a lecture/laboratory course. The overall goal of the course is to provide students with an understanding of how cells become specialized to form tissues and how those tissues form organs. The course provides the basis for understanding structure-function relationships in normal organs and how those relationships are affected by pathogenic mechanisms.

Human Development

This interdisciplinary course provides students with a broad overview of human development from birth through death. Knowledge of the principles of normative development is an essential framework within which subsequent clinical contacts can be conceptualized and understood. The life cycle will be examined longitudinally along specific developmental themes as well as cross-sectionally by developmental periods. Through lectures and readings, the interplay among social, emotional, moral, cognitive, behavioral, psychosexual and biological variables throughout the lifespan will be addressed. At each period of life, critical life tasks will be explored in detail and specific, discrete examples discussed. Clinical cases will be used to examine the boundary between normal and abnormal functioning.

Introduction to the Patient 1; Longitudinal Generalist Mentorship 1

Introduction to the Patient (ITP) is an interdisciplinary, two-year course that introduces students to both the science and art of doctoring. It facilitates the development of the core clinical skills and increases understanding of the context of medical care. The primary focus in the first year is on history and physical exam skills, communication skills, and professionalism. The Longitudinal Generalist Mentorship (LGM) component is a community-based early clinical experience beginning in the second semester of the first year through which students practice patient assessment skills, are exposed to the economic and social context of illness, and develop a collegial relationship with a physician mentor.

Medical Molecular and Cell Biology

MMCB emphasizes the classification, structure, and molecular pathogenesis of clinically-relevant human pathogens among bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Immunology is taught as a separate section, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial and tumor immunology, as well as hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, and transplantation immunology. Wet laboratories, computer-assisted exercises, and clinical correlation conferences combine with lectures to relate the basic science principles to laboratory diagnoses and clinical medicine.

Neuroscience

The Neuroscience course presents an overview of the human nervous system so that students understand the function of its complex parts as they relate to each other, to normal brain function, and to major neurologic and psychiatric problems. This course integrates molecular, developmental, plasticity, metabolic, physiologic and anatomic concepts. The underlying theme is to localize neural functions and to compare them with specific neurological substrates in a clinically relevant manner. Learning methodologies include lectures, wet labs with special dissections, small group problem-based learning, web-based resources, self-study, digitized interactive computerized tomography, and digitized magnet resonance angiography.

Physiology

The Physiology course covers basic concepts of systems physiology and applies these concepts to clinical medicine. It uses three approaches to teaching: lectures on basic concepts, clinical correlations, and computer simulations of physiological and disease processes. The course is be divided into three segments: the first covers membrane, muscle and a portion of cardiovascular physiology (theme of membrane phenomena, electrical and contractile activity). It proceeds to cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal physiology (theme: fundamental cardiovascular parameters, blood gases and acid base). It concludes with endocrinology, reproductive and gastrointestinal physiology (theme: hormonal regulation of all aspects of the body).