University of Pittsburgh
Organ System Pathophysiology

Neuroscience
MS-1

March 22, 2010 – May 7, 2010
42 half days

Allen Humphrey, PhD

Course Director
Allen Humphrey, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Neurobiology
humphrey@pitt.edu

Course Description

The Neuroscience course provides the first exposure to the organ system approach to pathophysiology. The first of nine such courses, it covers normal and abnormal structure and function of the central nervous system and peripheral innervation of muscle.

The goals of the course are to:

  1. understand the principal structural and functional components of the central nervous system and their vascular supply.
  2. to introduce basic principles of cellular neurophysiology, synaptic transmission and related receptor neuropharmacology.
  3. to introduce methods of neuroradiology and imaging techniques important to the study of brain function.
  4. to take a systematic approach to nervous system function and disease by focusing, in turn, on sensory and motor systems, learning, language, diseases that impact cognitive functioning, epilepsy, etc. using exercises to illustrate how normal functional organization is affected by specific types of disease or abnormal process.
  5. to recognize functional manifestations of classic neural disorders, and be able to explain their etiology. 

The 81 faculty are from 11 departments: Anesthesiology, Medicine, Neurobiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, and Radiology.

Educational Methods

Lectures Laboratory exercises Clinical case conferences    
Problem-based learning Self-study exercises        

Curricular Themes

Cancer; Diabetes; Disability and secondary conditions; Infectious disease; Medical genetics; Mental health and mental disorders; Nutrition; Pain management; Rehabilitation/care of the disabled; Substance abuse; Vision and hearing.

Evaluation

Evaluation for the course is determined by two exams, each of which contributes 50% of the final grade. Student participation in and contribution to PBL sessions is required and is evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.

Grading: This course comprises 80% of the grade for the Organ System Pathophysiology Block, Section 1. The block section is graded Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

Allen Humphrey, PhD, has won a number of teaching awards, including the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, Recognizing the Dean’s Master Educators; several Excellence in Education Awards, including for Outstanding Course Director; and several Golden Apple Awards. 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. Humphrey and Dr. Duker is a member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.