MEDS - Medical Science

MEDS 501 Independent Investigative Inquiry (III): 4 Credits (4 Other)

PREREQUISITES: WWAMI medical students
The purpose of the Independent Investigative Inquiry—the III—portion of the curriculum is to engage students in activities that will foster the skills of life-long learning essential for practicing physicians in the 21st century. Each student selects a topic of particular interest to her or him, and to investigate the subject independently, following the advice of a faculty advisor and other resources in the WWAMI community.

View Course Outcomes:

Obtaining first-hand experience in the acquisition and synthesis of new knowledge
Understanding a health-related issue in depth
Fostering a mentoring relationship with a faculty member outside the usual course structure
Summarizing the experience or findings in a written document

MEDS 503 Foundations of Clinical Medicine: 4 Credits (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 1 Other)

Introduction to continuity of care by working with practicing physicians and coinciding with instruction in communication skills, interviewing techniques, physical examinations, documentation, and clinical reasoning. Includes hospital-based patient encounters with an introduction to the development of the physician role. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 12 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Communication and interviewing:\\n1. Elicit a complete and accurate medical history, including the patient’s narrative and the impact of illness.\\n2. Adapt the interview to patients’ needs across the lifecycle.\\n3. Demonstrate the basic components of the problem-focused interview \\n4. Demonstrate patient-centered communication skills for eliciting and exchanging information, identifying health priorities, and making decisions about treatment.\\n5. Recognize and respond to patients’ emotions.\\n6. Identify social and cultural contributors to individual patient’s health and health behaviors.\\n7. Develop a collaborative approach to facilitate changes in health behaviors.
Physical Exam\\n8. Perform a complete physical exam as defined by the FCM benchmarks, maintaining respect and rapport throughout the exam and demonstrating proper use of medical equipment.\\n9. Perform a problem-focused physical exam appropriate to the patient’s chief concern, including exam maneuvers helpful in differentiating causes of common chief concerns.
Oral Case Presentation\\n10. Present an accurate, complete and well-organized comprehensive oral case presentation. \\n11. Present a problem-focused oral case presentation.
Write-up\\n12. Accurately and completely document a comprehensive history and exam in a standard and organized manner. \\n13. Propose a plan for the patient’s primary problem.
Clinical Reasoning\\n14. Document a problem-focused outpatient encounter. \\n15. Prioritize a 3-5 item differential diagnosis for patients presenting with a new concern, and write an assessment articulating how the history and exam findings argue for or against these diagnoses.
Interprofessional Education: Teamwork and team communication\\n16. Describe and differentiate the roles of different members of the healthcare team\\n17. Demonstrate effective communication strategies for healthcare team members: closed loop communication, development of a shared mental model, and a democratic communication style
Professional Development\\n18. Develop a professional identity as a medical student\\n19. Develop a practice of professional reflection\\n20. Demonstrate professional behavior and communication with patients, peers, faculty, and staff\\n21. Demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and independence in seeking additional information and resources while providing patient care.
Context of Care\\n22. Differentiate contexts of care and visit types, including acute, chronic disease, and preventive care, and apply appropriate tools and skills to each type of visit\\n23. Differentiate the role of primary care and specialties in the delivery of medical care\\n24. Identify and apply community resources available to assist patients and families for providing care in the patient's home or community.

MEDS 504 Independent Investigative Inquiry Final Project: 1 Credits (1 Other)

PREREQUISITE: WWAMI Medical Student
Students will engage in a project with an in-depth focus on a health-related, thereby giving additional context to their training and career as a physician. In the process they will develop the skills to acquire and critically evaluate new information under the guidance of faculty mentorship. This will culminate in dissemination of their scholarly work through a poster presentation or a final paper depending on the type of scholarship chosen.

View Course Outcomes:

Formulate a clear question in a field related to medicine
Review and summarize the relevant literature underlying the question.
Describe the steps and logic of the method chosen to answer the question.
Acquire or use existing data to answer the question.
Describe and disseminate scientific results through a poster presentation or paper
Assess the limitations and generalizability of the project; describe potential next steps.

MEDS 505 Rural Health Care Delivery: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: WWAMI medical student. Provide historical and current information about the health care industry, health care delivery systems and economics of health care and health care policy; with emphasis on rural health care. The purpose is to encourage WWAMI students to consider practicing in rural communities and/or providing health care to underserved populations. The infrastructure of the Montana health Care Delivery system will be presented in detail. Prior to Fall 2014, "Rural Health Care Delivery" was offered as MEDS 560
Repeatable up to 14 credits.

MEDS 507 The Healer's Art: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: WWAMI Medical Student. Encourages cultivation of human dimensions in practice of medicine while strengthening personal commitment to medicine as a life's work. Facilitates student recognition of commonality of personal concerns among peers and student response to the dimension of mystery in the experience of illness as well as development of the capacity for awe. WWAMI

MEDS 508 Medical History Conference: 1 Credits (1 Other)

PREREQUISITE: WWAMI medical student. Guest lecturers discuss a variety of topics WWAMI Medical Program
Repeatable up to 4 credits.

MEDS 510 Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research: 9 Credits (3 Lec, 2 Lab, 4 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to foundational basic science and research concepts in medicine. Topics covered include molecular and cell biology; human physiology, genetics and biochemistry; community health and disease; clinical epidemiology, research study design and data analysis. Incorporates fundamental principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology, and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI students only.
Repeatable up to 9 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Describe the overall structure of the nervous system, muscles, vasculature, and basic body plan with respect to location, function, and pathologies; describe the basic methodologies of common imaging modalities and interpretation of clinical images.
Recognize normal and pathological histology of cellular and molecular responses to physiologic stress, including apoptosis and necrosis, and employ histological tools to identify the gross and microscopic changes in various tissue types.
Apply knowledge of pharmacokinetics, how the body adsorbs, distributes, metabolizes, excretes drugs, and knowledge of pharmacodynamics, action of drugs in the body, to predict and compare the beneficial and detrimental outcomes of pharmacotherapy.
Relate the normal physiology of intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways, cell cycle progression, and autonomic nervous system function to cellular responses to changes in physiological parameters.
Explain the major biochemical mechanisms of molecular information transfer, including DNA replication and repair; RNA synthesis and processing; and protein synthesis and degradation.
Apply the fundamentals of cell biology including the function of major organelles, structural elements, and cellular processes to illustrate the etiology of human diseases.
Describe the functional elements in the human genome, regulation of gene expression, fundamental genetic concepts, patterns of inheritance, and types and consequences of genetic and epigenetic variations on health.
Understand the fundamentals of energetics and homeostasis including the major pathways of carbohydrate, amino acid, nucleotide and lipid metabolism and storage to predict how dysregulation can lead to human disease.
Distinguish among the major types of research study designs and data analyses and compare the benefits and limitations of each in appraising potential causal relationships
Interpret measures of effect in randomized trials and observational studies and apply statistical measures to distinguish research study findings from chance
Recognize features of disease and testing that are conducive to screening tests and explain the individual and public health significance of screening and diagnostic test results

MEDS 515 Cancer, Hormones, & Blood: 7 Credits (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 4 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of endocrinology, hematology, and oncology. Topics covered include endocrine regulation of metabolism; normal physiology and pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for clinically important endocrine disorders; disturbances in red cell, white cell, and platelet production; abnormalities of hemostasis; and malignant neoplasia. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology and pharmacology, and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 7 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the major disease processes leading to endocrine, hematopoietic and neoplastic disorders.
Recognize the pharmacological properties, mechanism of action, adverse effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of common diseases affecting the endocrine and hematopoietic systems and the neoplastic state.
Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with endocrine, hematopoietic and neoplastic diseases/disorders.
Describe the normal physiology of the endocrine and hematopoietic systems including the processes of hormone regulation, hematopoiesis, and hemostasis; and predict the responses of these systems to changes in physiological parameters.
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to malignant neoplasia and the major diseases of the endocrine and hematopoietic systems.
Compare and contrast the genetic or epigenetic, pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of common hematopoietic and solid malignancies.
Identify the common risk factors, primary screening modalities and initial diagnostic studies that substantially impact cancer incidence and mortality.
Describe how specific molecular alterations, stage, grade and clinical presentation impact prognosis and therapy of the neoplastic state.

MEDS 520 Infections & Immunity: 7 Credits (3 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of the immune system; microbiology; infectious diseases; inflammation and repair. Topics covered include the pathogenesis and immunity of infectious disease, immunodeficiencies, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and the basis of immunologic diagnostics. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 7 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the pathophysiological and histological abnormalities of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
Identify the characteristics of antimicrobials, their mechanism of action, mechanisms of resistance, and adverse effects that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of infectious diseases.
Recognize the pharmacological properties, mechanism of action, and adverse effects of anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulators, vaccines and cell-based therapies that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of immune-mediated systemic diseases.
Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests and other methods used to evaluate patients with pathogenic infections and immune-mediated systemic diseases.
Describe the normal physiology of the innate and adaptive immune system and predict the responses of these system to diverse pathogenic microbes as well as resident microbial flora.
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
Classify clinically significant microorganisms based on their structure, host habitat, modes of transmission, reproductive cycle, and survival mechanisms in the infected host.
Apply knowledge of cellular and soluble inflammatory mediator function to predict beneficial and deleterious immune responses such as the response to acute and chronic infections, wound healing, and hypersensitivity reactions.
Compare and contrast normal and abnormal immune mechanisms that mediate tolerance, autoimmunity, allergy, and responses to tumors and transplanted organs and cells.

MEDS 525 Medicine, Health, and Society I: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

Integrates School of Medicine thematic content with an emphasis on core concepts for clinical practice in the changing healthcare environment. Students explore areas related to humanism in medicine including the themes of ethics, health systems, systems improvements, health equity, diversity, social determinants of health, and global population and public health. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 1 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Describe and integrate fundamental concepts behind ethics, health systems, systems improvements, health equity, diversity, social determinants of health, and global population and public health as they relate to medicine in today's society.

MEDS 530 Muscles, Joints, Bones, & Skin: 6 Credits (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of the musculoskeletal system and dermatology. Topics covered include clinical manifestations in the skin, muscles, bones, and joints and the pathophysiology of trauma, aging, infection, and inflammation. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 6 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major anatomical structures of the musculoskeletal system and describe their anatomical and structure-function relationships in the human body
Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the common musculoskeletal disorders affecting the limbs, spine, joints, and peripheral nerves.
Identify the characteristics, mechanism of action, side effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of major diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the skin.
Select and interpret appropriate laboratory, diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders and diseases of the skin.
Describe the normal physiology of the musculoskeletal system and predict the normal responses to changes in physiological parameters
Recognize and present the etiology and functional changes in anatomy that lead to the major diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Describe the normal macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of the skin and the pathophysiology and histopathology of common skin diseases.

MEDS 535 Medicine, Health, and Society II: 2 Credits (1 Lec, 1 Other)

View Course Outcomes:

Contextualize, apply, and present core concepts in ethics, health systems, systems improvements, health equity, diversity, social determinants of health as they relate to medicine in today’s society.

MEDS 540 Cardiovascular System: 6 Credits (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Other)

Comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to cardiovascular biology and medicine, including thoracic anatomy, physiology, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, and surgery. Topics covered include cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac muscle mechanics, myocardial infarction, and cardiac repair. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 6 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major anatomical structures in the thoracic cavity, including the heart, lung, aorta and its major branch vessels, and describe their anatomical and structure-function relationships in the human body
Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the major disease processes affecting the heart and vascular system.
Identify the characteristics of the major classes of cardiovascular drugs, their mechanism of action, side effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of major diseases of the heart and vascular system
Select and interpret appropriate laboratory, diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with cardiovascular diseases including chest radiography, echocardiography, and electrocardiography
Describe the normal physiology of the cardiovascular system and predict the normal response of this system to changes in physiological parameters
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to the major diseases and disorders of the cardiovascular system.

MEDS 542 Respiration & Regulation: 7 Credits (3 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Other)

Comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to the respiratory and renal-urinary systems and medicine, including pulmonary and renal anatomy, physiology, radiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Topics covered include ventilation mechanics; obstructive, restrictive, and pulmonary-vascular diseases; renal function; and common kidney diseases. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 7 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major anatomical structures in the respiratory and renal systems, including the lungs, kidney and bladder, and describe their anatomical and structure-function relationships in the human body
Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the major disease processes affecting the respiratory and renal systems.
Identify the characteristics of the major classes of pulmonary and renal drugs, their mechanism of action, side effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of major diseases of the lungs and kidneys.
Select and interpret appropriate laboratory, diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with respiratory or renal diseases including spirometry, renal ultrasound, and urinalysis.
Describe the normal physiology of the respiratory and renal systems, their function in maintenance of homeostasis including sodium and water regulation, electrolyte and acid-base balance, and predict the normal responses of these systems to changes in physiological parameters
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to the major diseases and disorders affecting the respiratory and renal systems.

MEDS 550 Head, Neck, & Gut: 6 Credits (2 Lec, 1 Lab, 3 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to head and neck anatomy and the gastrointestinal system. Topics covered include gastrointestinal and liver physiology; pathophysiology of digestion and hepatic function; the principles and practice of clinical nutrition. Integrates the relevant anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology of the GI system. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 6 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major anatomical structures in the head, neck and abdominal cavity and describe their anatomical and structure-function relationships in the human body
Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the major disease processes affecting the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas and gallbladder
Identify the characteristics of the major classes of GI drugs, their mechanism of action, adverse effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of major diseases affecting the gastrointestinal system.
Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with gastrointestinal diseases
Describe the normal physiology of the gastrointestinal organ system and predict the responses to changes in physiological parameters.
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to the major diseases and disorders of the gastrointestinal organ system.
Relate basic concepts of nutrition to the maintenance of health and development of disease states.

MEDS 560 Mind, Brain, and Behavior: 8 Credits (3 Lec, 1 Lab, 4 Other)

Comprehensive introduction to the organization and function of the central nervous system with a focus on clinical application of this knowledge to systematically approach the differential diagnosis and management of major neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders. Topics covered include normal physiological, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and current therapeutic approaches to disease including pharmacological, behavioral, surgical, and others. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology and pharmacology. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 8 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major anatomical structures in the central and peripheral nervous system, and describe their development, normal function and relationship to the vascular anatomy.
Identify pathophysiological and histopathologic abnormalities of the major neurological diseases and common clinical symptoms affecting the central and peripheral nervous system.
Identify the characteristics of the major classes of neuro-pharmacotherapy, their mechanism of action, side effects and primary toxicities that are clinically important in selecting appropriate medications for the treatment of neurologic diseases, pain and psychiatric disorders.
Select and interpret appropriate laboratory or diagnostic tests and other methods used in the evaluation of patients with pathologic processes affecting the nervous system.
Describe the normal physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the special senses (hearing, vision, smell and balance), and predict the responses to changes in physiological parameters.
Recognize and present the etiology and pathologic processes that lead to the major diseases and disorders affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems.

MEDS 570 Reproduction & Development: 8 Credits (4 Lec, 2 Lab, 2 Other)

PREREQUISITE: WWAMI Medical Student. (F) Covers normal and abnormal human development reproductive functions including formation and maturation of ova and sperm, menstruation, normal pregnancy, and labor and delivery. Provides information concerning infertility, family planning techniques, urinary disorders, and reproductive aging and demography of human population. Includes relevant fundamental scientific principles in pelvic anatomy, pathology, histology, imaging, and pharmacology
Repeatable up to 8 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Identify the major embryologic derivates and anatomical structures of the breast and in the pelvis and apply this knowledge to the clinical and radiological evaluation of common breast and urogenital conditions.
Apply the principles of pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, and physiology to guide the appropriate use of medications across the stages and circumstances of life--including childhood, pregnancy, reproductive aging.
Recognize the classical histopathology of the vulva, vagina, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, testes, and prostate and describe how these features change as a function of development, hormonal regulation, and benign and neoplastic disease.
Describe the physiological processes that guide reproductive development from prenatal life through puberty, pediatric growth and milestones, and identify common disorders of growth, development, puberty and gender identity, as well as their first line treatments.
Combine the normal progression of pregnancy, delivery, and lactation and describe the appropriate use of diagnostic tests and interventions to optimize obstetrical and neonatal outcomes and mitigate health disparities.
Describe the physiological regulation of the adult male and female reproductive systems and identify common disorders, their diagnosis and treatment.
Describe the common methods of managing reproductive function including: 1) family planning; 2) treatments for infertility;3) management of conditions and cancers of the reproductive organs; and 4) gender-affirming care.
Demonstrate effective communication skills by interacting with patients and/or other medical colleagues to analyze clinical data, solve clinical cases and identify health inequities.

MEDS 581 Farm to Clinician: A Culinary Medicine Approach to Healthcare: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITES: WWAMI medical student or consent of instructor. This interprofessional course will introduce the concept of food as medicine with a focus on nutrition, farm to table and sustainable food systems; give an overview of the biochemical interactions and benefits of particular foods; discuss application in the clinical setting with a focus on rural healthcare; and provide hands-on, experiential cooking lessons focused on the Mediterranean style of eating and other emerging topic related to nutrition
Repeatable up to 2 credits.

MEDS 592 Independent Study: 1 Credits (1 Other)

Designed for medical students required to complete additional study related to a required block offered during the pre-clinical foundation phase of the School of Medicine curriculum. Intended for students in remediation or extended programs to master identified areas of weakness in fundamental medical knowledge. Pass/Fail only. WWAMI Medical Students only.
Repeatable up to 2 credits.

View Course Outcomes:

Students, with the direction of the block director, will identify area(s) of concern in their fund of knowledge for the identified block.
Students will create an individualized learning plan to improve their knowledge base for the identified block core principles.
Students will demonstrate by means of a written examination that upon successful completion of this course, a satisfactory level of competency in the subject matter has been obtained.

MEDS 624 Health Equity and Community Organizing: 1 Credits ()

PREREQUISITE: Enrollment in a graduate or upper division undergraduate health professions program and consent of instructor. This interprofessional course equips students with tools to organize themselves and others to address social and structural injustices that perpetuate health disparities. Didactic coursework will be complemented with opportunities to apply skills and gain confidence through hands-on collaboration with local leaders and engagement in community-driven listening and advocacy campaigns