Preclinical Electives
Preclinical electives are open to all first- and second-year medical students. These electives are announced to students during the academic year. Students are active participant in the design and implementation of many of these electives. Students choose to participate based on subject area and pedagogical approach (didactic sessions, seminar discussion and/or community service). These electives may be associated and coordinated with Scholarly Concentration activities. All preclinical electives are graded Satisfactory/No Credit.
Fall Semester
Faculty Led
BIOL 3710 C Law, Medicine and Ethics (Fall Semester)
Dr. P. Flanagan, course leader
The course is a joint seminar with law students from Roger Williams University. It focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the social forces and other factors that impact health, and how legal and advocacy resources may be directed to help the most vulnerable in our society.
BIOL 3710 F Medical Spanish-open to second-year students only (Fall Semester)
Dr. N. Schuhmacher and K. Matthews, course leaders
The course is designed for students to gain beginning-level competence in Medical Spanish that will enable them to communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking patients and their families. Specifically, the students develop critical Spanish lexicon and language skills for conducting the medical interview. Perquisite: Background in Spanish.
BIOL 3710I Physician as Communicator (Fall/Spring Semesters)
Dr. T. Schraeder, course leader
The goal of this elective is to encourage medical students who are interested in writing and communication to produce tangible works that they can share with the class. The class will provide a motivating force for students who have a desire to write, but feel like they often do not have the time, but would like to make time. Furthermore, It will be a space for critique and improvement, and hopefully provide structure and guidance for those who would like to get pieces published. Each student must contribute in some way, whether through bringing in their own writing or video, distributing interesting articles or pieces that pertain to the course, or contribute to discussion and critique the work of others in the class. The writing will pertain in some way to medicine, our experiences in medical school, or our role as future physicians. All writing genres and modes of communicating (including public speaking, audio and video media) are welcome.
BIOL 3710 M No Innocent Eye: Knowledge and Interpretation in Art and Medicine, (Fall Semester)
Dr. J. Baruch, course leader
The course focuses on the many ways art and medicine overlap and entwine historically, and how skills of the artist are vitally important to doctoring today. Through art and literature, students gain a better understanding of their own responses to the body, the patient as a whole, and their role as physician. Students also acquire skills in ethical analysis, including the ability to break down complex problems, clarify concepts, and make arguments that balance competing values. The course is open to Alpert medical students and RISD students.
Student led
BIOL 3710 L Health Care in America, (Fall/Spring Semesters)
N. Hunter, '12, M. MacNamara,'12, T. Ramirez, '12 and A. Westlake, '12, and Dr. A. Frazzano and T. Trachtenberg, faculty advisors
The course aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, structured around issues of access to care. Topics include economics of healthcare and private health insurance; Medicare and Medicaid; pharmaceutical Industry; hospitals and how they work; and health care advocacy. A case presentation by students is required.
BIOL 3715 A Cancer and Reflection elective (C.A.R.E.) (Fall/Spring Semesters)
J. Kahn, '12 and Dr. M. Wool, faculty advisor
The course provides medical students an opportunity to learn about the bio-psychosocial model of cancer with an emphasis on patient advocacy in the preclinical years. There are weekly lectures on cancer basics and treatment options. Each student will also be matched with an individual living with cancer. The students will attend scheduled appointments with the patients at the hospital or attend support group meetings in the community.
BIOL3715B Business of Practicing Medicine (Fall/Spring Semesters)
A. Hua, '12, M Tsang, '12, V. Tseng, '12, and Dr. F. Ferri, faculty advisor
The course provides students with information about fundamental business principles and their application to health care. Topics include managed care, budgets, employment agreements and contracts.
BIOL 3715 D Medical Students Outreach to Mothers to Be (MOMS) (Fall/ Spring Semesters)
Dr. J. Taylor, faculty advisor
The course is designed to heighten the awareness for medical students regarding the clinical care for pregnant women and their newborns. Students increase their knowledge of medical needs as well as the social, economic, and cultural issues that are unique to this population. MOM is a place where students develop an individual student/patient relationship and follow the medical regiment of a pregnant patient, attend diagnostics tests, doctor's appointment, and the birthing process itself.
BIOL 3715 H Gender and Sexuality: (Fall Semester)
S. Khan, A. Nzeribe and Dr. E. Feller, faculty advisor
Throughout the course, students will explore the myriad ways in which gender identity and sexual orientation interplay within healthcare. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which a medical practice can better respond to the experience of these patients. The class will encourage an engaging and interactive exchange where we can share ideas, experiences, and community
Spring Semester
BIOL 3710 An Introduction to Tropical Medicine (not offered in academic year 2009-2010)
The course is designed for students interested in international health who seek to do clinical electives in developing countries in their third and fourth year. It provides the student with the essential knowledge of the basic science, laboratory diagnosis and management of the most important infectious diseases affecting people in tropical regions and /or developing countries.
BIOL 3710B Medical Chinese Elective (Spring Semester)
Dr. J. Sung, course leader
The course provides students proficient in the Chinese language with working knowledge of Mandarin relevant to medical practice in order to better communicate with and serve Chinese-speaking patients.
BIOL3710J Integrative Medicine: From Alternative to Maintain (Spring Semester)
Dr. R. Heffron, course leader
The course focuses on the distinctions between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and integrative medicine. It analyzes the strengths and limitations of biomedical model of medicine as well as addresses the issues related to doctor-patient communication concerning CAM. Finally, the course helps students develop an awareness of self-care and the physician's attitude for promotion of health and treatment of illness in the patient.
BIOL 3710 N Mindfulness in Clinical Practice: A Primer for Medical Students, (Spring Semester)
Dr. M. Smith, course leader
The course offers an evidence-based overview of the application of mindfulness to patient care and the opportunity to practice mindfulness. Students learn about research studies on mindfulness and meditation for physical and emotional health. Participants also experience mindfulness practices through participation in a mediation laboratory. Students gain knowledge of tools and strategies that can help them to be more resilient and more effective in the doctor-patient relationship.
Summer
BIOL3710 J Comparative Medical Ethics at University of Tubeingen, Germany (Summer, 2010)
The goal of this intensive two-week seminar is to bring pre-medical and medical students from Brown and Tubeingen together to discuss ethical issues of medical practice from a comparative perspective.
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BIOL 3710 K Topics in Medicine: An International Perspective at University of Rostock, Germany (Summer, 2010)
This course provides students with cross-cultural perspectives on medical topics such as aging in the U.S. and Germany contexts.
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