FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

PBIO501     St. Mary's 107

 COURSE DIRECTOR:

Dr. Jagmeet Kanwal                Room WP09A Research Bldg.                                    687-1305

kanwalj@georgetown.edu

COURSE CO-DIRECTOR:

Dr. Joanna B. Kitlinska           Room 235A Basic Science                                                687-5229

Jbk4@georgetown.edu

FACULTY:

Dr. Aviad Haramati                Room 213 Basic Science                                               687-1021

                                                   haramati@georgetown.edu

Dr. Michael D. Lumpkin        Room 247 Basic Science                                               687-1517

mlumpk01@georgetown.edu

Dr. Susan E. Mulroney           Room 253 Basic Science                                               687-1017

mulrones@georgetown.edu

Dr. Aruna Natarajan               Room 5414 CCC Medical Ctr                                      444-2468

an5@georgetown.edu

Dr. Adam K. Myers                Room 207 Basic Science                                               687-1766

myersa@georgetown.edu

Dr. Stefano Vicini                    Room  225 Basic Science                                              687-1567

svcin01@georgetown.edu

Dr. Jian-Young Wu                 Room WP24A Research Bldg.                                    687-1614

wuj@georgetown.edu

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The goal of the Fundamentals of Human Physiology  course is to provide the student with a basic understanding of the physiological basis of medicine.  The essential concepts of physiology and mechanisms of body function are presented at various levels of organization ranging from the cellular and molecular, to the tissue and organ system level.  Emphasis is also placed on understanding the integrated regulation of various body processes among several systems.

FORMAT OF THE COURSE

The material in this course is presented by way of a variety of settings: lectures, problem-solving workshops, and small group tutorials.  As described below, each is designed to serve a different educational goal and together they provide an appropriately stimulating atmosphere for learning.  Virtually every major lecture series is presented by a faculty member who is actively working (and is a recognized expert) in that field of research.  At the beginning of the course each student will receive a handout containing the schedule and the educational objectives for each lecture series, sample problems, and additional relevant material.  The objectives represent the required knowledge and skills, and are realistically achievable if students spend time studying and solving problems, and participate in the tutorials and discussion sessions.

Lectures:  Didactic lectures are an efficient way of presenting material to a large class.  However, in an effort to move away from passive student learning, less than half of the contact hours in this course will be in lectures.  Thus, lectures will not cover all the required material, but will focus on specific concepts.

Problem-Solving Workshops:  These sessions will be given in the large lecture hall, but will not be didactic lectures.  Rather, the aim of these teaching sessions is to improve students' problem-solving skills by working through several quantitative problems related to the particular physiological system under study.

Small Group Tutorials:  These are two-hour sessions during which several clinical or pathophysiological cases are discussed to illustrate the application of basic physiological principles and concepts.

Review Sessions:  Periodic review sessions are scheduled throughout the course.  The format will be question and answer (not another lecture) and attendance is optional.

EXAMINATIONS

Two examinations will be given:  a mid-term and a final.  The tests will utilize National Board-type questions, which will be prepared by the individual lecturers and will be based entirely on the specific objectives for each lecture series and/or problem-solving workshop.  However, because the lecture series will not cover all the required material, students who depend entirely on course lecture notes will be handicapped.

GRADES

The course grade will be determined from the results of the two examinations, each weighted according to the number of questions.

FACULTY AVAILABILITY

Department policy encourages faculty to be available to all students who wish to discuss relevant material.  Each lecturer is generally available in his/her office during the late afternoon for such discussions.  Students not achieving an appropriate level of competence are strongly urged to contact the Course Director for advice.  Help should be sought promptly since the course moves on relentlessly.  The faculty members teaching this course will have office hours for meeting with students during the period of their lectures and before examinations.  General problems should be discussed with class officers or class Curriculum Committee representatives.  These representatives will meet periodically with the Course Director.

ATTENDANCE

School policy requires attendance at all teaching sessions.  In particular, small group sessions such as small group tutorials and problem-based learning sessions are important parts of the learning experience in physiology.  Therefore, attendance and participation in these exercises are mandatory.

GENERAL TEXTBOOKS IN PHYSIOLOGY

One of the following general textbooks is required.

            Principles of Physiology, Berne and Levy (3rd Edition, Mosby, 2000)

            This new textbook is concise and easy to read.  Each section contains excellent color figures and numerous clinical correlations that are very helpful.

OR

            Textbook of Medical Physiology, Guyton and Hall (10th Edition, Saunders, 2000)

            This classical textbook is favored by many students for its readability.  It has been updated and offers a comprehensive treatment of human physiology.  It is also the perferred textbook for the cardiovascular section.

Fundamentals of Human Physiology Course Schedule - 2008
Note that these dates are shifted by 2, but the order is correct

Week  1 

Week  2 

Week  3

Week  4 

Week  5 

Week  6 

Week  8 

Week  10 

Week  11 

Week  12 

Week  14 

Week  16 

 Week  18