Integrated Case Studies
MS-2

March 1, 2010 – March 26, 2010
19 half days

Course Director
Philip Troen, MD
Professor
Department of Medicine
troen@pitt.edu

Course Director
Paula R. Clemens, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Neurology
pclemens@pitt.edu

Course Description

This course serves as a bridge between pre-clinical coursework and clinical clerkships. Students employ their knowledge base and data-gathering skills gained during pre-clinical coursework. Applying and building this foundation, students pursue clinical management of defined patient cases. The course utilizes a small student group setting with a faculty facilitator emphasizing self-directed and peer group-based learning. Thus in this course students develop key skills needed for upcoming clerkships.

The goals of the course are:

1. to apply the information learned during the first 2 years to clinical problems, thus further developing independent active learning and data-acquisition skills.
2. to improve problem-solving and communication skills.
3. to revisit the information studied during the first two years in preparation to taking Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
4. to function as a bridge to the direct patient responsibilities and clinical problem solving of the third year clerkships.

The 48 faculty are from 19 departments: Anesthesiology; Cell Biology and Physiology; Critical Care Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Family Medicine; Medicine; Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Neurobiology; Neurological Surgery; Neurology; Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; Otolaryngology; Pathology; Pediatrics; Pharmacology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Psychiatry; Surgery; and Urology.

Educational Methods

The format of this course is exclusively problem-based learning. The computer-assisted learning environment has the following advantages: 1) It provides a data repository to expedite the use of images as well as textual data for the cases; 2) It enhances communication among the students of each group by adding electronic capability to classroom interaction; 3) It provides a means to track the approach of students in each case, thus helping the faculty assess the effectiveness of case material.

	Problem-based learning		Computer-assisted instruction

Evaluation

Evaluation is based solely on in-class performance and attendance.

Grading: This course comprises 100% of the grade for the Organ Systems Pathophysiology Block, Section 4. The block section is graded Honors, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory.

Faculty Note

Course director, Philip Troen, MD, is the recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, recognizing the Dean’s Master Educators. Georgia K. Duker, PhD, is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, multiple Excellence in Education Awards, and the Pre-clinical Golden Apple Award. David E. Eibling, MD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award and the Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award. Elmer J. Holzinger, MD, is a recipeint of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award. James Johnston, MD, is the recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, the Golden Apple Award, the Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education and multiple Excellence in Education and Pre-clinical Golden Apple Awards. Donald Middleton, MD, is a recipient of the Kenneth E. Schuit Award, the Excellence in Education Award, and the Sheldon Adler Award for Innovation in Medical Education. In addition, Dr. Duker, Dr. Eibling, Dr. Holzinger, and Dr. Johnston are members of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Academy of Master Educators.