Download Host Defense and Blood

Host Defense and Blood
Course Co- Leaders: Leslie Berg, PhD and Robert Weinstein, MD
Foundations of Medicine I: Spring Semester, 62 hours {excluding student and course assessment time}
A Note from Course Leadership:
This course will provide an integrated overview of blood and its disorders (hematology), immunology and inflammation. It will
incorporate several new features including on-line learning modules, virtual microscopy exercises and student-led clinical case
discussions and problem-solving sessions. Our specific focus is on building student knowledge of the interactions between the
blood, immune and inflammatory systems and using this information in conjunction with clinical data to identify important
hematological and immunological disorders.
Course Overview:
The course will be organized into two major sections: Blood and Host Defenses. Each section will include a focus on the normal
development, structure and function of the key components of these systems followed by a survey of the major disorders affecting
them. The course will primarily address these competencies: physician as scientist and physician as clinical problem solver.
Scope of Content:
Blood:
Bone marrow: normal and abnormal hematopoiesis
Peripheral Blood
Red blood cells: normal structure and function, disorders, introduction to transfusion medicine
White blood cells: normal structure and function, disorders, progenitor cell transplantation
Platelets: primary hemostasis, platelet hematology, platelet transfusion
Plasma proteins and coagulation cascade: concepts, regulation, anticoagulation, coagulation disorders,
plasma products and derivatives
Host Defenses:
Inflammatory response: cells, soluble factors, vascular response, chronic inflammation
Innate immune response: cells, soluble factors, immune receptors, response to infectious agents
Adaptive immune response: antibody structure and function; B cells - development, activation and differentiation,
malignancies; T cells - antigen presentation, T cell development and functions, T cells in disease - leprosy,
autoimmune diseases, malignancy, tumor immunology; hypersensitivity reactions
Connections to Other Courses:
This course will be closely coordinated with the Infections course, which will occur simultaneously, and there will be critical links
with content presented in other FOM1 courses, including Working Cells and Tissues, Genetics, Principles of Pharmacology, and
Cancer Concepts. It is anticipated that clinical material presented in this course will have links with the Doctoring course and
Integrated Clinical Exercises (ICE) program.
Educational Methodologies:
We plan to use the following new teaching methods: on-line learning modules and self-assessment quizzes, on-line virtual office
hours and chat rooms, small group student-run clinical problem solving sessions, clinical cases requiring integration of hematology
and immunology material, in class feedback on material and clinical problem solving using audience response system (clickers). Small
groups will be facilitated by up to 20 faculty during small group case study discussion sessions.
Student Assessment: Methods Planned:
Formative: on-line self-assessment quizzes, use of audience response system during didactic lectures; no in-class time required
Evaluative: on-line graded quizzes following clinical case study discussions, in-class midterms and final exam; 4-6 hrs in class time
required