Undergraduate Medical Education: First Year

COM 10110 — Structural Basis of Normal Body Function (9 credit hours), preclinical course. Fall term of year one.

Complete dissection of the human body and virtual microscopy of tissue sections will provide students with knowledge of normal gross and tissue anatomy. Laboratory sessions will be supplemented with lectures, study guides, and the study of cross sections. Human embryology is included in the program.

The course will provide a foundation for subsequent understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of organ systems and common diseases.

COM 10120 – Molecular Basis of Normal Body Function (7 credit hours), preclinical course. Fall term of year one.

This integrated course will provide students the molecular biology, genetics, cell structure, and biochemistry of normal body function with an emphasis on clinical applications. Instruction includes live and pre-recorded lectures, team-based learning sessions, and clinical basic science conferences.

Along with COM 10110, the course will provide a foundation for subsequent understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of organ systems and common diseases.

COM 10210 – Common Mechanisms of Disease (7 credit hours), preclinical course. Spring term of year one.

This course will cover fundamental information on mechanisms common to multiple diseases, to include basic aspects of cell injury, repair/regeneration, inflammation, immunopathology, neoplasia, nutrition, underlying genetic causes, and addictive life styles. It will also expose students to basic aspects of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics; basic microbial structure, classification, physiology, and genetics; the immune response to infections; and fundamentals of laboratory diagnosis in the practice of medicine. Instruction includes live and pre-recorded lectures, small group sessions, team-based learning sessions, laboratory exercises, and clinical pathophysiology conferences.

The course will provide a foundation for subsequent understanding of the causes, response, diagnosis, and pharmacologic treatment of common diseases as well as the pathology and pathophysiology of organ systems.

COM 10410 – Principles of Clinical Medicine I (2 credit hours; 1 term), preclinical course. Fall term of year one.

This course covers a variety of topics including HIPAA and OSHA regulations, developing patient rapport, the doctor/patient relationship, the biopsychosocial model of medicine, professionalism, communication and interviewing skills, history taking, nutritional assessment, and performing and documenting a physical exam. All topics are thoroughly integrated into concurrent foundation courses.

COM 10420 – Principles of Clinical Medicine II (5 credit hours, 1 term), preclinical course. Spring term of year one.

This course covers a variety of topics including patient rapport skills, the doctor/patient relationship, the biopsychosocial model of medicine, professionalism, communication and interviewing skills, history taking, performing and documenting the physical exam, tobacco and weight loss counseling, drug dependence, challenging patient encounters, preventive services, diagnostic testing properties, and basic biostatistics. All topics are thoroughly integrated with concurrent foundation courses.

COM 10510 – Hematological, Cardiovascular, Renal (9 credit hours), Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Preclinical course. Spring term of year one. This course will provide a fully integrated presentation by multiple basic and clinical faculty on diseases of the Hematological, Cardiovascular, and Renal organ systems. The physiology, pathophysiology, pathology, pharmacology, and infections underlying these systems will be covered. Instruction includes live and pre-recorded lectures, small group sessions, team-based learning sessions, and clinical pathophysiology conferences. The course will provide a foundation of integrated basic and clinical sciences needed by students as they enter the clerkship phase of training.

LSP-1.2 30120 – Longitudinal Scholar’s Project (1 credit hour, spring term), longitudinal course for the Fall and Spring term of year one.

The Longitudinal Scholar's Project (LSP) clerkship is a longitudinal clerkship spanning the four years of medical school. The course will introduce medical students to three basic areas: health research, patient safety and quality improvement (PSQI) and community and global health. The clerkship involves a longitudinal project in one of the three areas and culminates in a graded poster presentation.

Rather than have every student participate in each category, the clerkship provides the students with a foundation of basic understanding in research, patient safety and quality improvement and community/global health, while requiring each student to do a project in one area to be presented at any time during medical school. The poster may be presented at a committee approved poster venue. Outstanding work will be eligible for awards.