Hands-On Medicine: A Week in the Life of a Medical Student

Course Description

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a medical student? In this course, you will learn about the fundamentals of the practice of medicine through an exciting week of immersive activities. You and your peers will explore the physiology of the human body in the classroom, and then experience an in-depth look at the anatomy of the organs themselves in the anatomy lab. You will step inside the shoes of a doctor, learning how to conduct a medical interview and perform an extensive physical exam while working with standardized patients (actors trained to portray patients in various medical situations). Finally, you will delve into important ethical issues often encountered in the medical field.

Modern medicine is not merely a hodgepodge of isolated facts, figures, problems, and procedures; in reality, it is a tightly integrated practice. This course adheres to this principle, effectively combining essential aspects of medicine to enhance students' understanding and retention. As an example, consider the heart. Among many other things, in one week, you will learn about the science of heart function, see a real human heart and identify its structures, efficiently interview a patient with chest pain, conduct a cardiopulmonary physical exam, and discuss the moral questions regarding a potential heart transplant. Through this interwoven approach to medical education, you will surely leave the course with a sharply heightened sense of both the art and science of healing.

This course will be taught by current medical students from Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School.

Prerequisites: Students who take this course are expected to have a strong foundation in biology and an eagerness to experience medicine in an interactive setting, both inside and outside the classroom.

*For 1 week course sections scheduled for June 29 - July 2, 2020: Classes will not meet on Friday, July 3rd due to the observed Independence Day holiday. Due to the brevity of the course, meeting times have been adjusted accordingly Monday - Thursday to preserve in-class hours. We encourage students to remain on campus through Friday as our Campus Life team will be fully engaged with our students, offering a variety of activities.