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HID Part I Units

Cardiovascular System

The Cardiovascular Unit explores the normal physiology and functioning of the heart and vascular system and the pathologic diseases that can affect them. You will learn about the electrical activity of the heart, the coupling of this activity to contraction of the heart, and the blood supply and valves that keep this pump working effectively. You will learn how the heart is studied through different imaging modalities, as well as the basic skills of interpreting core elements of a 12-lead electrocardiogram. In the small group session and labs, you will discuss the elements of a cardiac examination and explore how to diagnose patients with arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, and congestive heart failure. The development of the heart and surgical and interventional techniques that treat various forms of cardiovascular disease will also be discussed.

Unit Leader: Mohamed Elshazly, MD


Pulmonary System

The Pulmonary Unit focuses on the structure and function of the lung in health and disease. The section begins with the basic physiology of the lung, including development and early origins of lung disease, and builds on this foundation to study the pharmacology and lung pathology in obstructive diseases, interstitial lung diseases, vascular diseases, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Unit Leader: Meredith Turetz, MD


Gastrointestinal System

The Gastrointestinal Unit will cover the normal structure and function of the GI system, as well as its major disease states and pathologies. The unit is built around nine clinical cases, each of which emphasizes one aspect of gastroenterology. These cases serve as a scaffold for discussions of physiology, histology, pathophysiology, pathology, and pharmacology of the relevant organs. We will also illustrate pertinent imaging modalities and introduce the abdominal examination. Social and ethical issues will also be discussed in relation to the unit.

Unit Leader: Amir Soumekh, MD


Renal System

The Renal Unit is divided into three sections, partitioned roughly into the three weeks of the course. The first section is heavily anatomical, including urology, urinary tract infections, renal pathology (including glomerular pathology and renal tumors), and disorders of glomerular function (proteinuria and acute renal failure). The second section is anchored to kidney transport processes (normal and abnormal): Na+ (as it relates to hypertension and edema), K+, acid-base (including the interplay of respiratory and metabolic disturbances), water metabolism, and renal calcium handling (specifically kidney stone formation). This section will introduce the clinical approach to diagnosis and treatment of fluid and electrolyte disorders. The third section will include renal development and pediatric nephrology, but the major focus will be the failing kidney and manifestations and treatment of chronic renal failure (dialysis and transplant). In this context, sessions will be devoted to examining ethical issues inherent in kidney donation, and in the decision to start or terminate dialysis.

Unit Leader: Thangamani Muthukumar, MD


Endocrine System

Endocrinology is the study of hormones, the glands that secrete them, and their actions throughout the body. In the Endocrine Unit, we will focus on the normal structure and function of the various glands, including thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, and parathyroid, as well as disease states arising from abnormal glandular function, including diabetes mellitus and metabolic bone disease. Students will become comfortable with the evaluation and management of various endocrine diseases. Teaching modalities will include lectures, small group case discussions, patient panels, and laboratories.

Unit Leader: Rayaz Malik, MBChB, PhD


Infectious Disease

In this unit, the students will have acquired knowledge about important pathogens associated with individual organ systems throughout the prior HID learning units. This unit will introduce particularly complicated pathogens that affect multiple organ systems and that cause systemic infections. The students will learn the characteristics of individual pathogens and the host immune system that enable the onset of infection and that are responsible for the pathogenesis and the clinical manifestations of diseases. They will also acquire the skill to list systemically the differential of possible infectious agents that cause different clinical syndromes and to apply appropriate tests to make definitive diagnosis. Finally, they will become familiar with treatment (e.g., antimicrobial agents) and prevention (e.g., immunization) strategies for infectious diseases.

Unit Leader: Linnie Golightly, MD


Patient Care and Physicianship

The Patient Care-Physicianship portion of Health, Illness and Disease continues the development of the core concepts in patient care and working as a physician that was initiated in the Essentials Principles of Medicine segment. Patient Care focuses on clinical evaluation skills, including the history and physical examination, communication, principles of clinical reasoning, epidemiology, biostatistics, evidence-based medicine, health-care delivery systems, and patient safety. Physicianship embraces the doctor-patient relationship, professionalism, leadership and teamwork, ethics, humanism, and reflective practice.

Unit Leader: Liam Fernyhough, BMBS