An introduction to the medical profession and foundational content for the study of human medicine. Topics focus on organ systems and cellular and molecular biology, the physiologic basis of homeostasis, basic histology and anatomy, and introductory genetics, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and nutrition.
Athena Title
Medical Fundamentals
Prerequisite
Students must be enrolled in the first year of the Doctor of Medicine curriculum
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Student learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify and relate the anatomical structures of the superficial and intermediate back, breast, and pectoral region and their associated neural and vascular supply.
By the end of this course, students will be able to explain how the most commonly used anatomic imaging modalities visualize the internal structures of the body.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the basic principles of histology and the histological organization of epithelial tissue and skin.
By the end of this course, students will be able to summarize the structure and function of epithelial tissue, exocrine glands, and blood cells and their components, and distinguish these tissues in histological images.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe homeostasis and how different body systems function to maintain it.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the distribution and movement of water and solutes between the major fluid compartments of the body.
By the end of this course, students will be able to explain the cell cycle, including the major stages and how they are regulated, and how the cycle can be altered during oncogenesis.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the normal structure, function, and regulation of a gene, and how DNA variants can impact gene expression, protein function, cellular specialization, and disease phenotypes.
By the end of this course, students will be able to distinguish functional features of both stem cells and differentiated cells and describe applications of stem cells to human disease and treatment of illness.
By the end of this course, students will be able to compare and contrast the basic categories of microbes, including those that comprise the human microbiome.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the components of the innate and adaptive immune system and the mechanisms of acute inflammation and infection.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the roles of micro- and macronutrients in human nutrition, fuel metabolism, and nutritional requirements in healthy and diseased states.
By the end of this course, students will be able to summarize the processes of wound healing, tissue regeneration, and programmed cell death, and explain how these mechanisms contribute to normal tissue development and homeostasis.
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify the components of the most commonly used blood tests employed to evaluate patient health.
By the end of this course, students will be able to explain pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying burn injuries and breast cancer and apply this knowledge in case-based discussion of select patients presenting with these conditions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to distinguish between social, structural, biological, and environmental determinants of health.
By the end of this course, students will be able to compare systems and models for organizing, financing, and delivering health care.
By the end of this course, students will be able to develop effective strategies to identify and research clinical questions and compare and contrast the main clinical research study designs to determine which study design can be used to obtain sound answers for given types of research questions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify the components of a History & Physical document used in patient care.
By the end of this course, students will be able to apply universal precautions in patient care situations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to perform waived point of care (POC) tests used in patient care.
By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate level-appropriate effective communication and interpersonal skills when delivering patient-centered care in simulated and real-world patient encounters.
By the end of this course, students will be able to describe patient-centered care and the attributes of a physician that are consistent with exemplary professional values.
Topical Outline
● Gross anatomy of the back, pectoral region, and breast.
● Histological features of epithelial tissue and skin.
● Homeostasis and cellular biology, including transport mechanisms, cellular signaling, the cell cycle, cell injury, cell death, and cancer biology.
● Tissue regeneration and repair.
● Primers in anatomic imaging, genetics, medical microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and human nutrition.
● Select topics related to evidence-based medicine, clinical decision making, community and population health, and social determinants of health.
● Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
● Professional behavior, ethics, personal development, resilience, and professional identity formation.
● Clinical laboratory testing and point-of-care testing.
