This Bulletin is the comprehensive source of academic information and program requirements for the Penn State College of Medicine. The College is committed to the education of medical, physician assistant , graduate students, and practicing health professionals. Explore programs and research opportunities as you select your specialty and gain knowledge in the field.
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Changes to the College of Medicine Bulletin
COURSES ADDED: EFFECTIVE Summer 2023
- MED 759: Oral Anticoagulants
- OBGYN 724: Preparation for Internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- OBGYN 725: Labor and Delivery elective
- OBGYN 741: Urogynecology Ob/Gyn Elective
COURSES Changes: EFFECTIVE SUMMER 2023
PAS 701: The Structural Basis of Clinical Practice
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
This course provides an understanding for the structural basis for clinical practice. This understanding, in turn, enables efficacious treatment. There are approximately 160 hours of instruction equally divided between the classroom presentations and laboratory dissections. Evaluation of the student will be by both written and practical examinations. Each of four content regions of anatomy have a written examination and a laboratory examination; each worth 100 points. Thus, there are a total of 800 points available. Each written examination is approximately 80% handwritten essay and 20% short answer. The laboratory examination is 100% based on 50 structural identifications. Laboratory identifications are freshly dissected. The goal for each examination is to provide additional learning within the context of assessment. The course content is divided into four regions; 1) lower limb and back, 2) upper limb and thorax, 3) abdomen pelvis and perineum, and 4) head and neck. Approximately 160 hours of instruction are equally divided between classroom presentations and laboratory dissections. The student to cadaver ratio for dissection in the laboratory is four to one. Laboratory sessions are attended by graduate students, basic science faculty, and clinical science faculty. Access to the dissection laboratory is available 24 hours per day and seven days per week. In addition to foundational human anatomy, each content region includes presentations augmented by embryology, central nervous system, radiology, and clinical correlations. - Embryology. Incorporated into each classroom presentation is an account of the embryology giving rise to the fully developed anatomy studied in the laboratory. - Central Nervous System. Students have the unique opportunity to remove the brain from the cranium, hold the human brain in their hands, and study the surface anatomy of the brain and spinal cord. Students have the opportunity to dissect the brain and spinal cord to further gain an appreciation for fiber tracts and nuclei. - Radiology. Clinical faculty from the Department of Radiology lead case base instruction for each of the content regions. These clinical presentations total approximately eight hours of instruction. - Clinical Correlations. Clinical faculty lead case based instruction for each of the content regions. These clinical presentations total approximately 16 hours of instruction. This course will be offered during the summer and fall semester for the physician assistant student in the Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Expected enrollment is for 30 students in this class cohort.
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
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PAS 702: Applied Human Structure and Function II
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
Course will discuss the clinically relevant anatomy and structural information necessary for clinical practice emphasizing surface anatomy and surface markings. PAS 702 Applied Human Structure and Function II (2) Course will discuss the clinically relevant anatomy and structural information necessary for clinical practice emphasizing surface anatomy and surface markings. The practical application of anatomical information to clinical medicine is covered by using case studies via team-based learning in anatomy. Clinical problems requiring anatomical knowledge for their solution are presented during each case conference session. Lectures and laboratories cover the embryonic development of the human body and the relationship to structure and function. Cadaver dissection will be utilized to reinforce the position of these anatomy structures so that clinical relevance can be elicited. Course objectives: At the completion of this course, the student will be able to: - Describe the normal anatomy and physiology as it relates to infectious disease, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, rheumatology, general surgery, and musculoskeletal disease - Use surface anatomy as the basis for the physical examination. - Identify normal and abnormal structures on dissection and discuss how abnormalities in human anatomy can impact health and disease states with regard infectious disease, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, rheumatology, general surgery, and musculoskeletal disease - Explain the relationship between anatomic structure and function and how this relates to health and disease. - Discuss the clinical relevance between anatomy and function. Methods of instruction will include: (1) lecture, (2) discussion, (3) demonstration, (4) audiovisual materials, (5) case studies, (6) dissection laboratories. The audiovisual materials will be in the form of Primal Anatomy (Penn State has already purchased) and the Netter Anatomy Atlas (available via Harrell Library). Classes will be held in C1847 every Wednesday from 1-5 pm Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-5 pm throughout the semester. There may be adjustments to these class sections, depending upon topics under discussion. The dissection of the musculoskeletal system will occur at the regularly scheduled and announced dissection times per mutual schedule agreement between the College of Medicine and the Physician Assistant Program. These dissections will typically occur in the morning hours over 4 days per week for two weeks during this semester. The topics covered in this class will correspond to the topic areas in the clinical medicine integrated class, namely infectious disease, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, rheumatology, general surgery, and musculoskeletal disease Evaluation strategies will include multiple choice examinations, practical laboratory examinations, and tests which involve the identification of structures and their function. This class is offered during the second semester (fall semester) of the Physician Assistant Program and will be offered yearly. Since this class is intended to prepare these students for their role as practicing physician assistants, this class will be focused on this group of students.
PreRequisite: PAS 701 , PAS 705 , PAS 708 , PAS 711 , PAS 714 , PAS 717 , PAS 723
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
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PAS 730: Medical Ethics
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
This course aims to introduce students to a variety of ethical problems that arise in the practice of medicine. PAS 730 Medical Ethics (1) This course aims to introduce students to a variety of ethical problems that arise in the practice of medicine. This course will also introduce ethics methods - in other words, how do you do ethics in a systematic fashion that will increase the probability of arriving at right answers? The goal is to apply a systematic framework to ethical dilemmas in order to de-mystify the process and empower students to reach their own right answers. At the conclusion of the course, student will be able to - Recognize common ethical issues they are likely to face, and consider the issue within the larger context of a moral method - Demonstrate an ability to anticipate and avoid ethical problems - Resolve ethical dilemmas using moral methods This course aims to accomplish four primary goals. First, I want to begin to improve your critical thinking skills. This is partly accomplished by assigning readings that address various topics and issues that are relevant and then engaging them in directed classroom discussion of those readings and subjects. Second, through class discussion I want to expose and familiarize you with an interactive Socratic style of classroom activity in which the goal is shared exploration of the topics rather than a passive lecture-style classroom. Along with improving critical thinking, this allows us to practice and improve our ability to articulate, discuss and debate ideas aloud (ie, interpersonal and team interaction skills). Third, you will become more familiar with some of the basic concepts, issues, arguments and cases in medical ethics.
PreRequisite: Completion of Summer and Fall semesters; Concurrent: PAS 703, PAS 706 , PAS 709 , PAS 712 , PAS 715 , PAS 718
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
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- Concurrent
PAS 745: Women's Health I
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
PAS 745 Women's Health Rotation is a mandatory clinical rotation that will prepare students to provide high quality care while treating the female population from the teenage patient through the geriatric female. Students will develop the ability to evaluate, manage, treat, and educate the female patient, including the areas of contraception, pregnancy, prenatal and postpartum care, and menopause. The student will utilize critical thinking, history taking and physical exam skills, and use diagnostic tests, as appropriate, in order to effectively create a plan of care for the female patient. The student will perform or assist in procedures utilized in women's health. Students will communicate with women in a respectful and sensitive manner. Requires direct supervision by clinical instructors.
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
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- Abbreviated Title
PAS 766: Urgent Care I Rotation
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
PAS 766 Urgent care I is an optional course that falls under the ambulatory care rotation which involves the evaluation and management of patients who present for care in an urgent care setting. Students will gain experience in their ability to stabilize, evaluate, and manage patients in an urgent care setting. Students will gain proficiency in identifying patients with clinical presentations that need immediate attention and those conditions which can be treated in a less urgent manner. Students will gain an appreciation of how care is delivered in an urgent care setting which has significant differences from the care that is rendered in other health care settings, for example, the immediate availability of clinical interventions such as diagnostic imaging, electrocardiography, laboratory studies, and the availability of consultants such as surgeons and trauma personnel. Students will gain an appreciation of how urgent care departments function in the overall delivery of health care services within the US Health care delivery system. Students will be able to apply knowledge and skills from the pre-clinical curriculum to these patients who often have complex and urgent health care needs. Students will also gain exposure to the patient care mix for people who are presenting to an urgent care setting and may gain exposure to the typical roles that certified physician assistants play in the delivery of care in this setting.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of Preclinical curriculum courses
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
- Credits
PAS 776: Medicine Specialty Rotation
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
The goal of this elective rotation is to give the student additional medical training during the clinical year in a specialty related to their area of interest. During this rotation, the student will develop a fundamental knowledge base in major disease processes in the assigned medical specialty. The will improve upon their clinical decision-making skills and the ability to acquire, interpret, synthesize, and record clinical information required to define, understand, and manage patient problems in the assigned medical specialty. They will improve the skills necessary to present patients to faculty, residents and peers in a clinical setting. In addition, student will continue to work on their interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, patients' families, and professional associates. This elective will allow for student exposure to different areas of medicine they may wish to pursue following graduation, and help each student determine their own areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses.
Prerequisite: Penn State Physician Assistant Student in Clinical Education Curriculum. Concurrent: The student will be enrolled in clinical preceptorships during each of the clinical educational semesters.
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
- Credits
PAS 777: Surgical Specialty Rotation
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
The goal of this elective rotation is to give the student additional medical training during the clinical year in a specialty related to their area of interest. During this rotation, the student will develop a fundamental knowledge base in major disease processes in the assigned medical specialty. The will improve upon their clinical decision-making skills and the ability to acquire, interpret, synthesize, and record clinical information required to define, understand, and manage patient problems in the assigned medical specialty. They will improve the skills necessary to present patients to faculty, residents and peers in a clinical setting. In addition, student will continue to work on their interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, patients¿ families, and professional associates. This elective will allow for student exposure to different areas of medicine they may wish to pursue following graduation, and help each student determine their own areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses.
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
- Credits
- Description
PAS 793: Principles of Rheumatology and Orthopaedics
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
- Credits
- Description
PED 715: Infectious Disease
Old Listing Effective Through Spring 2023:
Principles of host defense mechanisms, parasite interactions, manifestations of infections in children, systematic approach to the problem-solving, rational use of antibiotics.
PreRequisite: PED 700 or MED 700 and permission of staff
Changes Effective Summer 2023:
- Title
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- Prerequisite