University of Pittsburgh
Fundamentals of Basic Science

Fuel Metabolism
MS-1

December 15, 2009 - January 14, 2010
16 half days

Sidney M. Morris, PhD

Course Director
Sidney M. Morris, PhD
Professor
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
smorris@pitt.edu

Course Description

This course focuses on energy (metabolic) pathways essential to homeostasis.

The goals of the course are:

  1. to introduce the language and fundamental concepts relevant to the metabolism of the major metabolic fuels.
  2. to provide a background in the basic concepts and principles required to understand fuel metabolism in human cells and organs at the molecular, cellular, and organ level. This provides a common foundation for the organ-based courses that follow.
  3. to understand the metabolic pathways of the principal metabolic fuels and the biochemical basis for different metabolic requirements and capabilities of specific organs and tissues.
  4. to appreciate that homeostasis is a reflection of metabolic regulation that is achieved by hormonal and enzymatic control of key biochemical processes occurring in different organs, and that disease represents an aberration of one or more of these processes.
  5. to illustrate how basic concepts can be used to solve clinical problems.

The 22 faculty are from 8 departments: Cell Biology and Physiology, Critical Care Medicine, Medicine, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Pediatrics (Division of Medical Genetics [Division Chief]), Pathology, and Surgery.

Educational Methods

Lectures Clinical perspectives Review session    
Small-group    problem-based  learning sessions Self-study materials on the web        

Evaluation

Evaluation in this course is based on a final examination that is a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions and problems, and participation in small group sessions.

Grading: This course comprises 25% of the grade for the Fundamentals of Basic Science Block, Section 2. The block section is graded Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

Faculty member Georgia Duker, PhD, is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, Excellence in Education Awards for Problem-based Learning Facilitator and for Small Group Facilitator multiple times, and the Pre-Clinical Golden Apple Award. In addition, Dr. Duker is a member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.