Curriculum BS - General, Applied, Clinical Aspects & More

Semester I

GROSS ANATOMY AND EMBRYOLOGY

The course in human gross anatomy consists of approximately 160 scheduled class hours devoted to the development and understanding of a three-dimensional visual image of the human body. To achieve this objective, each student participates in the complete dissection of the body. Formal lectures are devoted to general, applied, radiological, and clinical aspects of anatomy, as well as an overview of each region to be dissected. A Course Companion, consisting of specific learning objectives and notes for each lecture/ lab session, is provided to facilitate and coordinate this learning process in addition to refer and read the recommended textbooks, anatomical atlases. In addition, a dissection guide with lectures and dissection of the human cadaver and/or Anatomical Models is also provided. The study of embryonic and fetal development, organogenesis, and congenital malformations is the substance of this one-term course. Gametogenesis, fertilization, and the formation of the placenta are examined in detail. The progressive development during the first eight weeks is explored extensively, with a description of the growth and tissue organization of the embryo from the undifferentiated condition to the fetus. Organogenesis, the origin and formation of all organ systems in the human, constitutes the major part of the course.

The various congenital anomalies are explained as deviations from normal development. The student is taught to have an understanding of the normal development of the human organism and learns to recognize the various congenital deviations that will be encountered in clinical practice ANATOMY LABORATORY A unique peer-teaching program has been developed for the dissection laboratory. Each class is divided into four or more groups with each group consisting of four or five students and are assigned as dissection teams to each cadaver and/or Anatomical Models in the laboratory. These teams dissect the cadaver and/or Anatomical Models on the designated lab day and meet with faculty members for a question answer/tutorial/quiz sessions. Teams are expected to demonstrate their dissection to the following set of student dissection teams. A standard dissection sequence begins with the back, upper extremity, thorax and abdomen, the retention and comprehension of which is tested in the examination.

The sequence is completed with the pelvis, perineum, lower extremity, head and neck, which is tested in the final examination. Instructions for dissections are given in the course dissector manual and last two hours each. The dissections are observed and graded by faculty and fellow students, and account for a percentage of the final course grade. Depending on the necessity, sometimes, and feasibility the sequence of dissection could be modified. The gross anatomy course is further highlighted by the presentation of sessions in Living Anatomy, where students learn to appreciate the intricacies of the human body through inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of one another and through the clinical cases. The anatomy curriculum is designed to enhance clinical integration of the basic sciences material. More emphasis is given to surgical anatomy. It is also planned to teach the clinical relevance of anatomy to various diseases as seen in the clinic.

HISTOLOGY

This course presents the structure of the human body as revealed by microscopy techniques. The course commences with a discussion of the cell and its internal structures and the topics presented in the analysis of cell structure Molecular and biological aspects of cell structure and their clinical relevance are emphasized. The role of cells in tissue organization and the interactions between cells, their organization to tissues, tissues to organs and various systems are stressed so that the students have a firm understanding for the courses of physiology and pathology. A firm understanding of normal microscopic anatomy, and the structure of various cells and tissues and variations in their interaction with the environment is essential to become a complete and modern physician. This emphasis is important since all diseases occur at the cellular level and thus students must understand the basic science of the cell and tissue structure and its mechanisms before they can understand the pathologic processes.

The dissections are observed and graded by faculty and fellow students, and account for a percentage of the final course grade. Depending on the necessity, sometimes, and feasibility the sequence of dissection could be modified. The gross anatomy course is further highlighted by the presentation of sessions in Living Anatomy, where students learn to appreciate the intricacies of the human body through inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of one another and through the clinical cases. The anatomy curriculum is designed to enhance clinical integration of the basic sciences material. More emphasis is given to surgical anatomy. It is also planned to teach the clinical relevance of anatomy to various diseases as seen in the clinic.

ETHICS AND HUMANITY

The fundamental concepts of ethical behavior that relate to the medical profession are covered in this course. An overview is provided of the current and probable future expansion of society’s role in the regulation of the practice of medicine. The basic principles of malpractice, including the definition of negligence and the measure of damages, are stressed. The particular topics of informed consent, medical ethics, and confidentiality of medical records are presented. The course surveys the history of medical ethics and compares the major views on such issues as the conflicts between different types of benefits to patients, the duties of a physician, patient autonomy, social ethics, and rationing of services understanding the human nature.

ICM I

The Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1 Course is an introduction to the practical part of Introduction to Clinical Medicine. Students will learn the basic knowledge and skills essential to perform a medical history interview. The Course emphasizes patient interviewing skills. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts learned in the lectures of ICM1. Over the two weeks, close interaction occurs between students and the instructor; at the end of the course the students should be capable of presenting a case write-up of the history interview in class.

The primary goal of the course is to train Students of Basic Science 1 (BS1) to conduct a medical interview and how to register the findings in the history. The student will do mock case interviews in class with fellow students and/or Standardized Patients (SP) (People trained to act as a patient with a disease/complaint) under the supervision of the course Directors of ICM1. The student will also learn how to develop good communication skills with respect, empathy and professionalism.

Semester II

BIOCHEMISTRY AND GENETICS

The course is structured to present and explore principles of chemistry processes in a live human body necessary for the study of medicine and for the understanding of other pre-clinical disciplines. The mechanisms of biochemical reactions involved in energy production, biosynthesis, and degradation are covered, with particular attention to their role in disease. The biochemical roles of the major organs of the body are studied together with an overview of the metabolic interplay between organs. The mechanisms by which major pathways are regulated are examined in depth. In the first half of the course, students are introduced to the principles of acids and bases, followed by the structure and function of proteins, particularly enzymes. The course continues with an introduction to energy production in the cell and carbohydrate biochemistry.

In the second half of the course, lipid and amino acid biochemistry are taught, together with molecular biology (including structure, function, and biosynthesis of RNA and DNA, protein biosynthesis, and modern gene cloning methods). The course provides a biochemical foundation on which students can build throughout their Preclinical Science and will be able to use later when they are qualified physicians. This course also reviews basic genetics and its application to the study of inherited disorders. It begins with a study of the chromosomes and the disorders that result from their aberrations. Exploration of Mendelian and polygenic inheritance follows, illustrated by representatives of the major heritable disorders of man. There is coverage of molecular and clinical genetics, including prenatal diagnosis and genetic screening. The course concludes with introductions to growth points in modern genetics, cancer genetics, gene therapy, and the Human Genome project.

PHYSIOLOGY

The aim of this course is to provide each student with a clear understanding of the most important concepts and principles of medical physiology. The course has three principal components – lectures, laboratories, and clinical cases. The lectures provide the information base, while the laboratories and case studies provide the student with an opportunity to assimilate and integrate the material within a small group setting. The course is divided into two equal sections. The first half covers cardiovascular, endocrinology, and reproductive physiology. The second half covers gastrointestinal, renal, pulmonary, and integrative physiology. The integrative component consists of acid-base regulation, temperature regulation, and exercise physiology. Appropriate clinical perspectives are presented throughout the course. Review sessions are scheduled on a regular basis.

BIOSTATISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

This course introduces statistical concepts and analytical methods as applied to data encountered in medical sciences. It emphasizes the basic concepts of experimental design, quantitative analysis of data, and statistical inferences. Topics include probability theory and distributions; population parameters and their sample estimates; descriptive statistics for central tendency and dispersion; hypothesis testing and confidence intervals for means, variances, and proportions; the chi-square statistic; categorical data analysis; linear correlation and regression model; analysis of variance; and nonparametric methods. The course provides students with a foundation to evaluate information critically to support research objectives and product claims and a better understanding of statistical design of experimental trials.

ICM II

The Introduction to Clinical Medicine 2 Course is the practical part of Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1 and learning of the physical examination skills. Students will learn the basic knowledge and skills essential to perform a medical interview and physical examination. The Course emphasizes patient interviewing and a comprehensive head-to-toe physical examination. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts of the interview and physical examination techniques. Over the entire trimester, close interaction will occur between students and the instructor. Groups of students are required to attend a preclinical clerkship with physicians of the community, Over the three weeks, close interaction occurs between students and the instructor, at the end of the course the students should be capable to perform the medical interview the physical examination and present a case write-up in the history.

The primary goal of the course is to train Students of Basic Science 2 to conduct a medical interviewing and Physical examination, register any symptom and signs that can lead to a correct Diagnosis. The student will do mock case interviews and Physical examination in class with fellow students and/or Standardized Patients (SP) (People trained to act as a patient with a disease/complaint) under the supervision of the Course Directors. The student will also learn how to develop good communication skills with respect, empathy and professionalism.

Semester III

PATHOLOGY I

The pathology course is taught in two segments – General and Systemic Pathology. The main emphasis of the course is on active learning by the students. This is accomplished by targeted discussions using pathology images representing patients and clinical vignettes with built in questions. The images are posted on the Pathology I Teams app available to students. Periodically, gross specimens and glass slides from current hospital material are also discussed. The faculty closely monitors the discussions, and each student is evaluated on a daily basis. The General Pathology course deals with how tissues respond to injury, cell death, inflammation, ischemia, thrombosis, embolism, infarction, etc. It also deals with response to infections, environmental pollutants and disease states related to abnormal immune responses. Mechanisms of tumor development and how they spread are studies under neoplasia. This is followed by a special course on Molecular Pathology techniques as applied to clinical practice.

PHARMACOLOGY I

This is an integrative course which requires the knowledge of the following courses: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Parasitology. On the other hand, this knowledge provides the basis for a proper and rational use of drugs in patients.

The teaching of Pharmacology is as old as the need to prevent, alleviate and/or cure diseases. These diseases are due to the influence of bio-psycho-socio-cultural factors, which cause imbalance in health and to return to normal life it is necessary to perform pharmacological treatment. The Pharmacology course is located in the axis of Promotion, Protection and Restoration of Health, and through it, the graduate of the School of Medicine will be able to perform a Therapeutic role, thanks to the knowledge of classification, mechanism of action, effects, interactions, metabolism and excretion of substances used in the preventive, curative and rehabilitative treatment of diseases, in the morbidity of the fetal, child, adolescent, adult and elderly in our community. It also allows us to know the therapeutic effects “in vivo” and “in vitro”, the undesirable effects and combinations that can produce synergism or pharmacological antagonism.

The graduate of the School of Medicine must develop skills to select drugs, agents, and biological products for use in the treatment of most frequently seen diseases in the community and to identify early the undesirable effects of the drugs used. They must show compassion and solidarity for the sick person and their relatives, in addition conduct framed in ethical-moral principles, in the efficacy, prognosis and cost-benefit of a pharmacological therapeutic scheme.

NEUROSCIENCE

This course is an interdisciplinary study of the function of the nervous system, entailing almost simultaneously its anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, and some pharmacology and pathophysiology. Whenever feasible, the course presents concomitantly, rather than sequentially, the basic structures, mechanisms, and functions of the various interrelated neural systems. Neurological case studies presented as disorders of normal function are included as an integral component wherever possible. Neuropathology is introduced at the end of the course, after the discussion of normal function has been completed. A detailed presentation of neuropathology, however, is deferred to the systemic pathology course. The first few weeks of the course include a general overview of basic elements, gross structure, and basic vocabulary. The systems and functions presented cursorily at first are reintroduced and dealt with in a more rigorous fashion, covering the basic electrical properties of cells, developing from membrane potentials through myoneural and synaptic transmission. They are followed by the study of contractile tissues, motor systems, sensory systems, higher telencephalic functions, and neuropathology.

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental principles of human behavior. Data and theories that contribute to the understanding of normal development and psychopathology are examined. In addition to providing the conceptual basis for psychiatry, the course emphasizes psychological aspects of patient care within the general medical setting. The importance of the bio-psychosocial model in the understanding and treatment of illness is stressed in lectures and in case-based, small group discussion. The course focuses initially on two major psychological theories of human behavior: psychoanalysis and learning theory. Exposition of these systems leads to discussion of psychotherapy, behavior modification, behavioral medicine, the doctor-patient relationship, development through the life cycle, psychological testing, human sexuality, and family therapy. Special attention is given to such life-disrupting disorders as substance abuse and child abuse, including detection and treatment. The student will learn how behavior can be understood in terms of underlying genetics, neuroanatomy, or neurotransmitters.

ICM III

The Introduction to Clinical Medicine 3 Course is the practical part of Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1 and 2. Students will practice the basic knowledge and skills essential to perform a medical interview and physical examination. The Course emphasizes patient interviewing and a comprehensive head-to-toe physical examination. With the knowledge of pathology 1 and the medical history, the ICM3 students will develop a principal diagnosis, 2 differential diagnoses, how to order specialized tests to confirm the principal diagnosis or confirm one of the differential diagnoses. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts of the interview, physical examination techniques and which specialized test order. Over the three weeks, close interaction occurs between students and the instructor, at the end of the course the students should be capable to perform the medical interview the physical examination, order specialized tests and present a case write-up in the history. Groups of students are required to attend a preclinical clerkship with physicians of the community.

The primary goal of the course is to train Students of Basic Science 3 to conduct a medical interview, physical examination, registering the symptom and sign that can lead to 3 potential diagnosis and how to order the specialized test (Laboratory-Imaging) based on the Pathology 1 knowledge that led to a correct Diagnosis. The student will do mock case interviews and Physical examination in class with fellow students and/or Standardized Patients (SP) (People trained to act as a patient with a disease/complaint) under the supervision of the Course Directors. The student will also learn how to develop good communication skills with respect, empathy, and professionalism.

Semester IV

PATHOLOGY II

The Systemic Pathology course involves similar principles to those studied in Pathology I but applied in detail to individual organ systems like-Cardiovascular, Respiratory etc. It would also include interpretation of laboratory data for some of the major disease processes. Several clinicopathological conferences, including difficult case seminars, are also discussed by students. Students are mandated to draw concept maps each week and submit for evaluation.

PHARMACOLOGY II

Pharmacology is the study of drugs in terms of: history, origin, physical and chemical properties; absorption, distribution and elimination, called Pharmacokinetics; the biochemical and physiological effect, the mechanisms of action, called Pharmacodynamics; the therapeutic uses of drugs and their likely adverse effect. The medical students and physicians need the knowledge of the pharmacological effect of drugs, Pharmacology refers to the drugs that acts in Cardiovascular system, Endocrine System, and the drugs with action on Cancer, Antiviral drug, Antiparasitic drugs and antimicrobials.

This is an integrative course, which requires knowledge of the following courses: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Parasitology. On the other hand, this knowledge provides the basis for a proper and rational use of drugs in patients.

The graduate of the School of Medicine must develop skills to select drugs, agents, and biological products for use in the treatment of most frequently seen diseases in the community and to identify early the undesirable effects of the drugs used. It must show compassion and solidarity for the sick person and their relatives, in addition conduct framed in ethical-moral principles, in the efficacy, prognosis and cost-benefit of a pharmacological therapeutic scheme.

MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

The microbiology and pathology courses are presented simultaneously and are closely integrated with each other. Microbiology appears as a balanced combination of formal classroom instruction and case-based exercises. The didactic portion is divided into two consecutive sections. The first of these covers the basic principles of microbiology, including classification and taxonomy, microbial physiology and genetics, genetic engineering, control of microorganisms through the use of physical and chemical agents, antibiotics, host parasite relationships, and epidemiological concepts. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infectious organisms are all represented in this series. In the second section, the pathogens are discussed according to the human organ system where they most often cause clinical disease. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate the epidemiology, pathogenesis, virulence properties, symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, and therapy of the various agents. The presentation is coordinated with the concurrent pathology course, so that the organ systems are dealt with in a fully integrated fashion. After each organ system, a practicing clinician to anchor a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis and disease presents representative cases This course include also provide the student with an understanding of the major principles and mechanisms underlying the elements of the immune system. There is an emphasis on the interaction between innate and acquired immunity in the response to infection. Mechanisms by which immunological compartments interact and clinically related topics are also emphasized. In addition to classroom instruction, students spend 10 hours in solving patient-oriented clinical simulations, including small group discussions.

ICM IV

The Introduction to Clinical Medicine 4-therapeuticss Course (ICM4-th) is the practical part of Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1,2 and 3 courses. Students will practice the basic knowledge and skills essential to perform a medical history and physical examination. The Course emphasizes patient interviewing and a comprehensive head-to-toe physical examination. With the knowledge of pathology 1&2 with the medical history the ICM4 students will develop a principal diagnosis, 2 differential diagnoses, how to order specialized tests to confirm the diagnosis or confirm one of the differential diagnoses. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts of the interview and Physical examination techniques. Lectures and reading assignments emphasize core concepts of the interview, physical examination techniques and which specialized test order Over the entire course, close interaction occurs between students and the instructor. Groups of students are required to attend a preclinical clerkship with physicians of the community, take histories, perform physical examinations, and present a case write-up in class. At the end of the course the students should be capable of performing the medical interview, the physical examination, order specialized tests and present a case write-up in the history.

Therapeutics is a continuation of the Biochemistry, Physiology, Pathology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology courses, is the integration of all these subjects to prescribe a drug/s based on the findings in the Medical History performed. The knowledge of all these subjects is necessary to prescribe and follow the evolution of the complaint/disease and surveillance of possible side effects and interactions that may occur.
The primary goal of the course is to train Students of Basic Science 4 to conduct a medical interview, Physical examination, registering sign and symptom that can lead to 3 potential diagnosis and how to order the specialized test (Laboratory-Imaging) based on the Pathology 1&2 knowledge that led to a correct Diagnosis.

The primary goal of the Therapeutics is to train students to conduct a Treatment plan based on the History findings, being aware of the benefits of the Therapy and the possible development of side effects and interactions. The student will do mock case interviews and Physical examination in class with fellow students and/or Standardized Patients (SP) (People trained to act as a patient with a disease/complaint) under the supervision of the Course Directors. The student will also learn how to develop good communication skills with respect, empathy, and professionalism.