Note: K, S, and A, with corresponding numbers in parentheses (e.g., K1, S2, A4), refer to Weill Cornell Medical College’s Educational Objectives of the program leading to the MD degree found at http://weill.cornell.edu/education/curriculum/edu_obj.html.

By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:


1. K1 Identify anatomical structures of the human body, including arms, back, spinal cord, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, perineum, and legs, as visualized by direct dissection of human cadavers and by radiological imagining techniques, including x-ray, CT-scan, and NMRI.


2. K1 Explain the functional and developmental relationship between the identified anatomical structures and the organs and organ systems.


3. K1 Identify the microscopic morphology of body tissues, including skin, spinal cord, peripheral nervous tissues, heart, lungs, gastro-intestinal system and accessory glands, female reproductive tissues and oogenesis, urinary tissues including kidney, ureter and bladder, male reproductive tissues and spermatogenesis, and endocrine glands (hypothalamic-pituitary axis, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, endocrine pancreas), using the optical microscope, digital virtual microscopy, and electron microscopic images.


4. K1 Discuss the relationship between the identified microscopic structures and the functional aspects of the identified tissues.


5. K1 Explain the development of the human body from fertilization to birth, including cleavage, blastocyst formation, formation of bilaminar disk, gastrulation, formation of the notochord and body plan, and the embryology of organ systems (skeletal-muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital systems).


6. K1, K5 Describe the developmental abnormalities that lead to common congenital defects.


7. K1 Identify the physiological functions; explain their mechanisms and their regulatory functions on endocrine organs (i.e., hypothalamic-pituitary axis, endocrine pancreas, adrenals, thyroid, and parathyroid glands) and organ systems (i.e., autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, gastro-intestinal system, urinary system, female reproductive system, and male reproductive system), with emphasis on body homeostasis and structure-function relationships.


8. K1, K7 Relate the physiological functions to pathophysiological abnormalities in common disease processes.


Skills:


9. S2, S3 Search, retrieve, and critically analyze medical information from various evidence-based sources so as to understand how basic science, clinical, and translational research are conducted and evaluated.


10. S1, S2, S3, S8 Analyze, distill, and synthesize clinical and scientific information collaboratively as a team - from generating a hypothesis about a medical problem, exploring these problems, and reaching a reasoned conclusion.


11. S2, S3, S10, A9, A10, Search various electronic and other databases and resources for evidence-based studies and critically evaluate their usefulness as applied to patient care.


12. S11, S12 Demonstrate enhanced communication and interpersonal skills with patients and with colleagues in a small group setting.


Attitudes:


13. A2 Demonstrate sensitivity to patients’ medical and psychosocial needs.


14. A5 Respect the views, time, and participatory rights of classmates and faculty in small and large group teaching settings

How Learning Objectives are Assessed
This course uses a variety of methods to assess students throughout the course that include both formative and summative evaluation. Methods for assessing student achievement of course learning objectives include multiple choice, short answer, and structure recognition quizzes in physiology, histology, and developmental biology/embryology; practical and written tests of anatomy-radiology; standardized patient and simulator interaction, Triple Jump examination, and attendance, participation, and quality of contributions in journal club and problem-based learning small group sessions. Please refer to the course syllabus for more specific details on grading.