Education
MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY Course
Description
This
course describes and illustrates the underlying principles of drug
therapy and introduces the background necessary for evaluating new
developments in pharmacology and therapeutics. This general objective is
achieved by a study of the components of pharmacology - pharmacodynamics
and pharmacokinetics - as well as individual classes of drugs. A
cumulative examination at the end of the course, in addition to short
exams, quizzes, and small group problem solving conferences throughout
the course, will evaluate the understanding and knowledge of all three
components.
The
course begins by developing those aspects of pharmacokinetics (what the
body does to an exogenous compound) and pharmacodynamics (what an
exogenous compound does to the body), as well as the interrelationship
between the two that influences the therapeutic response to drugs. The
students should be able to conceptualize and cite specific examples of
those factors that limit or enhance expected pharmacological actions, as
well as know the mechanisms and sites of these actions. For virtually
every drug to be discussed throughout the course, reference will be made
to pharmacokinetic aspects, drug metabolism, and receptor interactions,
based upon the information developed during the initial portion of the
course.
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