MS-1: Evidence-Based Medicine Fundamentals

August 24, 2022-December 7, 2022
13 sessions

Course Director
Aaron M. Brown, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
brownam3@upmc.edu

Course Director
Margaret Hsieh, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
hsiehm@upmc.edu

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to biostatistics and study design and analysis with a focus on clinical applications and interpreting the literature.

Course Goals:

  1. To give students a foundation for using the basic and clinical sciences in medical decision making.
  2. To teach students to think critically about concepts relevant to clinical research, including:
    • Diagnostic reasoning
    • Biostatistics and experimental design
    • Etiology, prognosis and survival
    • Therapies and studies of their effectiveness

Educational Methods

  • Lectures
  • Small-group learning sessions
  • Online modules

Evaluation

Evaluation for this course is based on criterion grading and passing the following 3 components: 1) 6 small group quizzes or the final exam, 2) small group attendance/evaluations, and 3) a case write-up of a research study.

Grading: This course comprises 100% of the grade for the Evidence and Discovery Block, Section 1. Grading for the block is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.