There won’t be any dissections, exams or “all-nighters” on the hospital floors, but the Medical School hopes that students enrolling in its Mini-Medical School won’t mind.
The six-week course, designed for curious members of the public who want a better understanding of the human body and some of its diseases, won’t lead to an M.D. But organizers do promise a chance to learn from some of the Medical School’s outstanding teachers and to gain valuable insights into health topics ranging from cancer to infectious disease. The course, the first such broad-based program offered by the U-M, is patterned after other well-received pilot programs.
Registration is under way for the Mini-Medical School’s inaugural session, which will be held 7–9 p.m. Tuesdays March 20–April 24. Classes will be held in the Medical Science Building II, in facilities used during the day for instruction of medical students. Each session will include the opportunity for informal exchange with faculty and classmates.
Space is limited, so prospective students should call (734) 763-9600 soon to arrange admission. The fees are $60 per person, $100 per couple, $30 for students and senior citizens. Refreshments will be served at each class. Free parking will be available in nearby U-M facilities. More information will be on the Web soon at www.med.umich.edu/medschool/minimed.
Each session will cover one general topic, providing the background necessary to understand current medical practice and some of the directions of medical research. The opening session will feature an introductory glimpse of human anatomy class, as seen in specimens from the U-M’s unique plastination laboratory, followed by a discussion of medical imaging techniques that allow physicians to evaluate the inner structure and function of the living body.
Subsequent classes will deal with the immune system and its role in disease; development, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease; the biology of cancer and approaches to diagnosis, prevention and treatment; and the emerging importance of medical genetics in medical practice, as well as its associated ethical issues.