Course Descriptions

FAMMD-861. Family Medicine/Rural Clerkship. The MUSC Family Medicine and Deans’ Rural Primary Care Clerkships have merged to form the Family Medicine/Rural Clerkship. The purpose of the Family Medicine/Rural Clerkship is to foster student development of a strong understanding of the clinical issues and professional role of a primary care physician and to further broaden the focus of student learning from providing care to individual patients to improving the health of defined population health perspective. The perspective “encompasses the ability to assess the health needs of a specific population; implement and evaluate interventions to improve the health of the population; and provide care for individual patients in the context of the culture, health status, and health needs of the populations of which that patient is a member.” (Population Health Perspective Panel Report, Academic Medicine. 1999;74:138). The partnership formed between the MUSC College of Medicine and USC School of Medicine through the Deans’ Rural Primary Care Clerkship will continue through the Family Medicine/Rural Clerkship in its dedication toward improving the health of the citizens of South Carolina. Prerequisite: successful completion of second year courses and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

MBIM-615. Infection and Immunity. This course introduces the basic concepts of molecular and medical microbiology and the major concepts in modern basic immunology and exemplifies the application of those concepts to the understanding of human diseases. Lectures on selected topics in clinical immunology and infectious diseases are integrated with a variety of small group activities designed to stimulate the development of clinical problem-solving and self education skills. The course emphasizes the importance of basic science information in understanding the mechanisms of disease and applying that understanding to the diagnosis and management of immunological and infectious diseases. Presentation: lectures, small group exercises, computer-based instruction, and problem-based learning. The students are also required to write an essay on a topic of their choice. Lectures given as PowerPoint presentations, general information, and useful links to other sites are available through a course Web site. Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

MDCOR-701. Fundamentals of Patient Care 1A. The course goals of Doctoring Curriculum I are t 1) prepare students for their third-year clinical clerkships with medical interviewing, oral, and written presentation skill development; 2) provide students early and meaningful patient contact; 3) increase students’ knowledge about behavioral sciences concepts relevant to medical practice; 4) develop and refine students’ knowledge and skills of medical informatics; 5) foster students’ acquisition of life-long, self-directed learning skills; 6) foster students’ professional and cross-cultural development as future clinicians; and 7) introduce students’ to issues related to the practice of medicine.  The course is composed of several blended segments and content has been developed to increase conceptual integration across these segments.  During the course, students participate in a clinical preceptorship in a community-based physician’s office. Presentation:  lectures, small group discussions and standardized patient interviews, small group exercises, self-directed learning experiences. Prerequisite:  enrollment in the M.D. degree program

The DC I course is composed of 5 coordinated segments in which learning content has been developed to increase conceptual integration across segments and learning activities have been selected to complement one another and maximize active, self-directed learning principles. These segments are:

• Longitudinal Patient Care Experience (LPCE) - students acquire and practice medical interviewing, oral and written presentation skills in small-groups and visit community-based primary care physicians’ offices.
• Behavioral Sciences in Medical Practice (BSMP) - using a problem-based learning (PBL) format, students develop self-directed learning skills and acquire information regarding the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that influence and explain patients’ and health-care providers’ behavior in medical practice.
• Physical Examination - students acquire basic physical examination skills in specific anatomical regions (e.g., head and neck, abdomen, musculoskeletal, male genitourinary systems).
• Basic Science Integration - students integrate knowledge acquired in the basic science courses with the practice of medicine.
• Medical Informatics - students develop and refine computer skills through self-directed learning experiences.

MDCOR-702. Fundamentals of Patient Care 1B. The course goals of Doctoring Curriculum II are to provide students continued experience with a clinical preceptorship in a community-based physician’s office, and to evolve and refine their medical interviewing and patient presentation skills, their knowledge of behavioral sciences in medical practice, and self-directed learning skills (building on knowledge and skills developed in Doctoring Curriculum I).  Students are also introduced to physical diagnosis and learn how to perform a physical exam of the normal person.  Presentation:  lectures, small group discussions and standardized patient interviews, small group exercises and sessions, self-directed learning experiences. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program

MDCOR-703. Fundamentals of Patient Care 2A.  Doctoring Curriculum III consists of Physical Diagnosis and Introduction to Clinical Ethics.  Physical Diagnosis builds upon students’ knowledge and skills of the normal physical exam, and provides students continued experience with basic skills in developing rapport with patients, taking a detailed medical history, performing a complete physical exam, and making verbal and written presentations of medical information.  Emphasis is on the practice of physical diagnosis skills on actual patients.  Presentation:  lectures and small group sessions.
 
Introduction to Clinical Ethics provides students with the basis for identifying the major ethical problems involving patients that clinicians face most frequently in their training and future practices.  This course helps the student to understand the history of these problems, and see them as opportunities to provide optimal care for patients and families whose lives have been disrupted by illness, pain and suffering; and to use a method of case study that a) enhances planning for the optimal care of patients and prevents disruption of care by ethical problems or helps resolve a complex or novel ethical problem; and b) helps clinicians to bring major ethical considerations and principles to bear upon these issues and problems.  Presentation: small group sessions.  Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

MDCOR-704. Fundamentals of Patient Care 2B.  DC IV consists of Physical Diagnosis, Introduction to Clinical Reasoning/Evidence-based Medicine, and Psychopathology.  Physical Diagnosis provides students continued experience in developing rapport with patients, taking a detailed medical history, performing a complete physical exam, and making verbal and written presentations of medical information.  Emphasis is on the practice of physical diagnosis skills on actual patients.  Presentation:  lectures and small group sessions.

Introduction to Clinical Reasoning/Evidence-based Medicine introduces students to skills of clinical reasoning and the model of evidence-based medicine for answering questions that arise during patient care.   Students learn the deductive reasoning process which reduces the patient’s problem into a differential diagnosis.  The student learns to 1) define the patient’s complaint, 2) develop a patho-physiological mechanism that explains the complaint, and 3) generate a list of probable causes for the complaint.  Basic statistical and quantitative epidemiological concepts are presented as students develop skills to critically evaluate and translate to clinical practice the medical and scientific literature.  Presentation:  lectures and small group exercises.

Psychopathology provides students with an introduction to the phenomenology of the major categories of psychiatric diseases, including affective disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, organic mental disorders, somatoform disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and disorders of childhood and adolescence.  For each diagnostic group, information is provided regarding the characteristic features, epidemiology, prognosis, and treatment of the disorder.  Information introduced in the course will be expanded during the Psychiatry Clerkship.  Presentation:  lecture and a small group interview.  Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

MDCOR-705. Fundamentals of Patient Care 3. This course allows clinical students to apply what they learned in FPC in their preclinical years in the clinical years. A special emphasis will be place in the application of ethics to their clinical practice and using their skills in evidence based medicine. Career planning from Careers in Medicine program is also required.

MDCOR-820. Homeostatis and Regulation A. Homeostatis and Regulation explores the ways in which the human body maintains and protects itself including genetic, nervous system, and hormonal control mechanisms.  Emphasis is on 1) how genetics creates cells and organs and ways they can go wrong, 2) how local neuronal control regulates blood flow and organ function with central nervous system overlay, 3) how the endocrine system regulates and modifies various function of the human body.  Each is taught in conjunction with the structural and functional units of the body from cellular to gross aspects. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-821. Homeostatis and Regulation B. Homeostatis and Regulation explores the ways in which the human body maintains and protects itself including genetic, nervous system, and hormonal control mechanisms.  Emphasis is on 1) how genetics creates cells and organs and ways they can go wrong, 2) how local neuronal control regulates blood flow and organ function with central nervous system overlay, 3) how the endocrine system regulates and modifies various function of the human body.  Each is taught in conjunction with the structural and functional units of the body from cellular to gross aspects. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-822. Food and Fuel A. The focus of this portion of the first year curriculum is how the body acquires, makes and utilizes fuel to support the essential functions of the human body.  Food ingestion, absorption and metabolism as well as generation of essential elements of cellular function such as NADPH, glucose and oxygen are central to this portion of the first year curriculum. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-823. Food and Fuel B. The focus of this portion of the first year curriculum is how the body acquires, makes and utilizes fuel to support the essential functions of the human body.  Food ingestion, absorption and metabolism as well as generation of essential elements of cellular function such as NADPH, glucose and oxygen are central to this portion of the first year curriculum. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-824. Structure and Function A. The goals of Structure and Function are to provide a sound understanding of the structure and function of the human body.  This year-long course teaches the gross to sub-cellular structural elements of the human body through cadaveric dissection, medical imaging, and electronic images.  The function is overlaid on the structural elements by lecture, problem sets, simulations and group exercises.  All elements are interwoven with the Homoestatis and Regulation, Food and Fuel and Fundamentals of Patient Care courses which run concurrently. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-825. Structure and Function B. The goals of Structure and Function are to provide a sound understanding of the structure and function of the human body.  This year-long course teaches the gross to sub-cellular structural elements of the human body through cadaveric dissection, medical imaging, and electronic images.  The function is overlaid on the structural elements by lecture, problem sets, simulations and group exercises.  All elements are interwoven with the Homoestatis and Regulation, Food and Fuel and Fundamentals of Patient Care courses which run concurrently. Prerequisite: enrollment in the M.D. degree program.

MDCOR-864. CPX2 and Board Review. Students must complete and pass CPX2 and take Step1 of NBME.

MED-980. Independent Study. This course provides an opportunity for a student to engage in individualized learning experiences under the direction of a faculty member. Independent study is designed to supplement required course work as an extension of that course, or to introduce the student to knowledge not associated with any existing course, or to provide an opportunity for research in an area of special interest to the student. This course is repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean.

OBGYN-801. Obstetrics and Gynecology Core. Introduces the basic knowledge and clinical problems as encountered in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Students are taught to acquire and develop their clinical skills in the care of patients. Emphasis is placed on obtaining experiences in routine obstetrics delivery, outpatient gynecologic management, and common gynecologic surgery. Presentation: didactic lectures, morning conferences, and ward rounds. Under supervision, students take histories and perform physical examinations. Prerequisite: successful completion of second year courses and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

PATH-602. Mechanisms of Disease (MOD) I. The purpose of MOD I is to enable the student to understand the pathogenesis of disease and to further develop a medical vocabulary. MOD I provides insight into the morphologic changes in cells and tissues of the body in various disease states. These morphologic changes and their underlying pathophysiology will be applied to the understanding of diseases of nutrition, pediatrics, autoimmunity, genetics, the environment, arteriosclerosis, infectious agents, transplantation, blood, and coagulation components. Presentation: lecture/demonstrations, group laboratory exercises, small group sessions, self-instructional computer-assisted learning programs and museum observation. Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

PATH-606. Mechanisms of Disease (MOD) II. Enables the student to understand specific disease processes of individual organ systems. Provides insight into the clinical, morphologic, pathophysiologic, and laboratory changes resulting from specific disease processes of the individual organ systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neural, alimentary, genitourinary, endocrine, skin and skeletal). Clinical and pathophysiological aspects of lab medicine are also encompassed. Presentation: lecture/demonstrations, group laboratory exercises, small group sessions, and self-instructional computer-assisted learning programs and museum observation. Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

PCOL-610. Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Provides a working knowledge of pharmacologic principles and their practical application in the therapeutic use of drugs. Emphasis is placed on understanding the disposition, effects, efficacy, and relative toxicity of all major drug groups in light of their biochemical and physiological mechanisms. Focuses on the application of this knowledge in the use of therapeutic agents. Presentation: an evidence-oriented approach; material is presented through a series of lectures, small group discussions, laboratory demonstrations, clinical pharmacology conferences, and self-study modules. Prerequisite: successful completion of first year courses.

PEDS-801. Pediatrics Core. Introduces common and unique pediatric pathologic processes; further develops clinical skills and experience in handling and managing both healthy and ill infants, children and adolescents, and their families, and encouraging application of basic science knowledge to patient care. Approximately half of the rotation is devoted to inpatient care with experiences both in acute, undiagnosed illnesses and chronic illnesses (subspecialty care). A portion is devoted to the newborn nursery and the remainder to ambulatory care (general clinics, specialty clinics, acute care clinics, and community resources). Presentation: direct patient/parent contact with house staff and faculty supervision. Experiences are supplemented with conferences and lectures. Prerequisite: successful completion of second year courses and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

PSYCH-801. Psychiatry Core. Introduces the student to the care of psychiatric patients. Learning objectives are to increase the students’ ability to recognize psychopathology, use interview techniques, correctly diagnose psychiatric disorders, appropriately use psychopharmacological agents, establish a supportive therapeutic relationship with patients, document and present verbally a psychiatric history and mental status examination, and work with health care personnel. Presentation: direct patient responsibility with close supervision from house staff and faculty.  Experiences are supplemented with conferences and lectures. Prerequisite: successful completion of second year courses and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

SURG-801. Surgery Core. Introduces the students to the care of surgical patients. Emphasis is placed on establishing the diagnosis, learning the pathophysiology of surgical diseases, participating in the treatment of surgical patients, understanding the means to support patients before, during, and after surgery, and understanding the impact of surgical illness on the patient and family. Presentation: direct patient contact with house staff and faculty supervision. Experiences are supplemented with small group discussions. rerequisite: successful completion of second year courses and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam.

Junior Selectives
For a complete listing of senior elective courses, see the Catalog of Selectives at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com1/current/yr3/Selectives.pdf .

Senior Electives
For a complete listing of senior elective courses, see the Catalog of Electives at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/com1/current/yr4/CoreElectivesExternships.pdf .