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Medicine, Patients, and Society II

Mohamud Verjee, M.D., Course Director
Deema Al-Sheikhly, MRes, Clinical Curriculum Coordinator

The goal of the course is to broaden your knowledge of patient assessment and patient care within the context of our health system. Specific goals include:

• To BEGIN to learn how to interview and examine a patient.
• To introduce you to some important concepts in medicine including the delivery of healthcare, medical ethics, and nutrition.
• To introduce you to the field of public health

The course consists of several modules listed below:

• The Mental Status Examination
• Physical Diagnosis
• Ethics
• Public Health Field Trips
• Introduction to Health Systems
• Nutrition

Course requirements for the individual components of the course are presented in detail in each of the outlines that are provided for each section. Below is a brief overview of the requirements that apply to all or many of the components.

MPS II involves the mastery of certain technical skills in addition to developing a fund of factual knowledge. Much of the "learning" in MPS II is based on active participation and observation in clinical sessions, seminars, small group sessions, and field trips. That is, the course has a large experiential component. Many "lectures" often have patient presentations, demonstrations of technical skills, videotapes, or panel discussions- "information" is learned only by experience or observation. Accordingly, attendance at all sessions is MANDATORY in this course. This includes all lectures and post-lecture videoconferences. Failure to attend sessions without a valid reason will be reflected in your final evaluation.

• Reading Assignments

  You are expected to complete reading assignments that are specified as required in the syllabi of the individual components. The readings are chosen not only to provide you with important factual information but also to serve as thought-provoking launching points for discussion in seminar and small groups. Some material from readings may be covered on examinations.

• Active Participation in Small Groups and Seminars

  You are expected to participate regularly, in small group and seminar discussions, in all components of the course.

• Written Reports

  Some components of the course require written reports (Public Health Field Trips) or patient write-ups (Physical Diagnosis). Reports or papers are expected to conform to the guidelines for format, length, and due date that are specified in the individual outlines provided.

• Written Final Reports

  Some components require written exams (Physical Diagnosis, Ethics, Introduction to Health Systems). The material covered, dates, and format are specified in the individual outlines provided for that component.

• Practical Examination

  The Physical Diagnosis component of the course requires a practical exam at the end of the course, during which you will interview and examine a patient under supervision, and present your findings to a physical diagnosis tutor who is different from your assigned weekly tutor.

The description of the method of assessment is detailed in each of the outlines. In general, assessment is based on attendance, participation in small groups and seminars, the quality of written reports and write-ups, and performance on oral, written, and practical examinations. You will receive a written evaluation of your performance from each component of the course in addition to an overall grade.

• Grades

  Your final grade will be Honors, Pass or Fail. The grade will be based on the individual component evaluations approximately weighted as follows:

  • Mental Status Exam 10%(based on seminar participation)
  • Physical Diagnosis50%(participation and write-ups 30%)(written/practical exams 20%)
  • Ethics exam15%(based on seminar/written exam)
  • Nutrition5%(based on attendance *)
  • Public Health10%(based on written report)
  • Intro to Health Systems10%(based on written exam)