MS-1: Tissues in Health & Disease

January 3, 2023-January 27, 2023
18 half days

Course Director.
Marie C. DeFrances, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Pathology
defrancesmc@upmc.edu

Course Director
Gerard Apodaca, PhD
Professor
Department of Cell Biology
gla6@pitt.edu

Course Description

This 4-week course builds on the student’s recently-acquired knowledge of cell signaling and development to introduce them to the structure and function of specialized cells in normal and disease states. The organization and function of major tissue types and core principles of pathology are presented. A primary focus is placed on the unique cellular and molecular responses of specialized cells and tissues to changes in their environment and injury.

Course Goals:

  1. Introduce students to core principles and the terminology of tissue biology and pathology.
  2. Introduce students to the structure and function of epithelia, connective tissues, muscle, and peripheral nervous tissue.
  3. Encourage students early in their medical school career to integrate basic and clinical science.
  4. Enable students to assess normal and disease states at gross anatomical and histological levels and to understand the molecular and cellular basis of disease.
  5. Introduce students to cell adaptation, cell injury, cell death, inflammation, repair, neoplasia, hemostasis, and hemodynamics.

Educational Methods

  • Lectures
  • Laboratory exercises
  • Histology workshops
  • Pathology workshops

Evaluation

Evaluation for this course is based on performance on exams (an MCQ exam and image exam), an early quiz on histology, a TBL, attendance at required labs and workshops and a final MCQ and image exam.

Grading: This course comprises 35% of the grade for the Foundations of Medicine Block, Section 3. Grading for the block is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.