Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine (ENREP)

This is a required course designed to introduce medical students to the essential fundamental principles underlying endocrinology and reproduction. The complex nature of endocrine and reproductive feedback mechanisms requires students to understand and apply critical thinking skills so that they will be able to integrate fundamental scientific knowledge with clinical reasoning skills, preparing them for effective learning in the clinical phase of their education. These goals include: - Compare and contrast the regulation of different target organs by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. - Discover the role of the thyroid hormones on the metabolic process. - Describe the role of diabetes and obesity in human health. - Analyze the normal and abnormal function of the adrenal glands and how these interact with other organ systems. - Describe the steps of development from embryo to adulthood - Explain the process of pregnancy and recognize possible abnormalities during this period. - Discuss the issues related to men's and women's health and predict the differential diagnosis according to specific risk factors. This course is presented annually during Phase I (Foundational Medical Sciences - the first 18 months of medical school) of the medical school curriculum and is a required course for all medical students. Assessment methods are discussed in paragraph C-2.