WWAMI Non-Clinical Selectives

University of Alaska, Anchorage

Contact: Maryann Kniffen, anmik@uaa.alaska.edu

Ethics in Clinical Medicine (1)

Focuses on ethical issues in medical training and clinical practice, as well as on core topics in biomedical ethics. Admission restricted to the WWAMI program or the MS program in Nursing Science, or with consent of instructor. Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass
Offered: Spring 
Faculty: Dr. Thomas Buller, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Geriatrics from a Cultural and Interdisciplinary Perspective (1)

Course introduces students from a broad range of disciplines to the biological, psychosocial dimensions, and mental health issues of aging. A special emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary clinical practice, aging from a cultural perspective, and health literacy. During the course students will examine their own perceptions regarding aging and interdisciplinary clinical practice. Through lectures, small group discussions, and experiential exercises students will learn to appreciate diversity that comes with age and culture and recognize the benefits of working in interdisciplinary health care teams. 
Offered:  Spring
Faculty:  Rosellen Rosich, Ph.D.
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this elective, students should be able to:
  • Compare and contrast aspects of normal aging with disease states and psychopathology and provide examples of each
  • Demonstrate awareness of the impact of culture on health care belief systems, health literacy, and health disparities by defining and explaining each area
  • Identify and access personal attitudes regarding aging and working in interdisciplinary teams in clinical practice

G H 501 Introduction to Global Health (1)

A basic introduction to Global Health.  Addresses a variety of themes in global health which serve as a base for an introductory-level understanding of the field. Emphasizes the diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on global health. 
Offered:  Fall Semester (Video conferenced from Seattle)
Faculty:  Daren Wade, Virginia Gonzales  A basic introduction to Global Health.

Montana State University

Contact: Elizabeth Nicholas, nicholas@montana.edu

Rural Health Care Delivery (1)

Provide historical and current information about the health care industry, health care delivery systems and economics of health care and health care policy; with emphasis on rural health care. The purpose is to encourage WWAMI students to consider practicing in rural communities and/or providing health care to underserved populations. The infrastructure of the Montana Health Care Delivery System will be presented in detail. 
Offered: Fall Semester
Faculty: Frank Newman, Ph.D.
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
  • understand the various definitions of rural used by federal and state agencies to study and fund rural health care;
  • differentiate and understand the relationships between rural, frontier, metropolitan and urban - and the significance to rural health care delivery systems;
  • define and understand the rural health care delivery system;
  • understand the history of development of federal safety net programs designed to assist rural health care delivery and delivery of health care to underserved and special populations;
  • understand the impact of Medicare and Medicaid on rural health care delivery systems;
  • describe the health care industry and understand the roles of federal, state, county and community governments in the industry;
  • describe the infrastructure of the Montana rural health care delivery system;
  • understand the role of industries which support health care delivery, including insurance, pharmaceutical, basic biomedical research, and clinical research;
  • identify and describe federal health programs; including Indian Health Service and Veterans Administration;
  • discuss the economics of rural health care;
  • understand the process of health professions workforce development, including workforce strategies for rural areas;
  • appreciate the multifaceted problems related to effective health care reform
  • discuss the infrastructure and roles of the public health system at the federal, state, county and community levels.

The Healer's Art (1)

The Healer’s Art” course is a 15-hour course based on an innovative educational strategy, the discovery model. It draws upon a broad base of tested approaches and theories from fields including humanistic psychology, formational theory, and cognitive and Jungian Psychology.
“The Healer’s Art” uniquely addresses professionalism and the hidden crisis in medicine. There is a growing loss of meaning and commitment experienced by physicians nationwide, as they manage the daily stresses of today’s health-care system. This course provides students and faculty an opportunity to discuss and actively explore methods of coping with these challenges. As medical educators we play a critical role in guiding future generations of physicians, supporting them and helping shape their professional development. 
Offered: Spring Semester
Faculty: Beth Ammons, M.D.
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this elective, students should be able to:
  • Make an active commitment to strengthening and preserving their humanity
  • Identify and describe the power of listening and being listened to
  • Identify and describe healing relationships with other students
  • Offer group support to colleagues in preserving and developing personal humanity
  • Identify and describe tools of self-remembering and stress reduction
  • Learn and practice skills of grieving loss
  • Recognize and appreciate the power of death to clarify life values
  • Identify and appreciate their unanswered and unanswerable questions about death
  • Recognize and appreciate the value of service for enriching their lives and its central role in medicine
  • Recognize and integrate the value of altruism, generosity, and personal meaning as a protection against burnout

Medical History Conference (1)

Volney Steele, a retired Bozeman physician with an avid interest in medical history, has organized a yearly conference dealing with topics related to Montana's colorful medical history. Though this attracts a wide audience, first year WWAMI students are allowed to participate in this one day conference and receive one elective credit. To fulfill the requirements, attendance at a second two hour session organized through WWAMI during the second semester will be necessary. Previous programs include: medical practices of Native Americans, medical problems of the Lewis and Clark expedition, epidemics in the early American West, frontier medicine in the early settlements of the West, and women's role in health care on Montana's frontier, Ticks & Prions: the History of Animal- & Human-Related Diseases in the Rockies, Mining and Medicine, and Shaping Medical Practice in the new State of Montana. 
Offered:  Spring Semester.
Faculty:  Volney Steele

Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (1)

Learn basic and intermediate Spanish in a medical setting; the vocabulary needed to perform a review of systems and physical exams; and how to feel less uncomfortable with a patient who only speaks Spanish. Class topics include: Intro/Anatomy/Pain; Cardiovascular/HTN; Respiratory; Reproductive/OB/Urinary; Gastroenterology/Diabetes Mellitus and Final Clinical Review. Prerequisite: WWAMI medical student or consent of the WWAMI Medical Program and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. 
Offered:  Fall and Spring Semester.
Faculty:  Barbara Komlos, M.A.

G H 501 Introduction to  Global Health (1)

A basic introduction to Global Health.  Addresses a variety of themes in global health which serve as a base for an introductory-level understanding of the field. Emphasizes the diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on global health. 
Offered:  Fall Semester (Video conferenced from Seattle)
Faculty:  Daren Wade, Virginia Gonzales

Spokane Riverpoint Campus

Contacts: Kathi Hoffman, kmhoffman@wsu.edu  or
                 Kim Noe, knoe@wsu.edu
 

Medical Thinking and Reasoning (1)

This course will provide the student with additional experiences in medical thinking skills and clinical reasoning approaches. The course will teach cognitive processes via a combination of clinical case discussions and demonstrations, student team-based diagnostic exercises with presentations, and monthly grand round lectures.
Offered:  Fall; Spring
Faculty:  George Novan, MD
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to: 
  • List keys parts of a presented medical case that impact the choice of diagnostic possibilities.
  • Prioritize potential answers to questions posed in case presentations.
  • Formally present a medical case as an unknown to an audience of colleagues and faculty.
  • Pause the medical case presentation at key points to solicit audience response.
  • Elicit directed responses from the audience to posed questions.

G H 501 Introduction to Global Health (1)

A basic introduction to Global Health.  Addresses a variety of themes in global health which serve as a base for an introductory-level understanding of the field. Emphasizes the diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on global health. 
Offered:  Fall Semester (Video conferenced from Seattle)
Faculty:  Daren Wade, Virginia Gonzales

Management of Stress and Maladaptive Responses (1)

One credit selective course offered to first-year WWAMI medical students. The primary goals are first, to train students in the effective use of coping skills both in themselves and their patients. Second, the goal is to educate students in the awareness and management of maladaptive responses to stress, both in themselves and their patients. The format of each day is a combination of panel presentations, lectures and small group discussions. Presenters include practicing physicians, their partners, and counselors who treat impaired physicians.
Offered:  Fall and Spring (must attend both sessions for the 1 credit)
Faculty:  Becky Conley, MD

Rural Medicine I & II (1)

This course is designed to introduce the student to issues that are unique to the practice of medicine in rural areas. Although directed toward first year TRUST students, the course will encompass topics of interest for students interested in underserved medical practice as well.  During lectures and learning and/or observation experiences, students will gain appreciation of both the benefits and challenges of the rural health care environment.  Other students may be allowed to take the course with permission of the instructor.
Offered:  Part I:  Fall; Part II: Spring
Faculty:  John McCarthy, MD
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Define and develop an understanding of rural health care

  • Develop an understanding of rural medical economics
  • Identify the differences of practicing and living in rural and urban environments
  • Review current efforts in health care reform and potential implications for rural health care

Take Two Poems and Call Me In The Morning (1)

A seminar course held weekly in the evening. The students will increase their own empathy and compassion through selected readings, reflective writing and facilitated discussions. 

Offered:  Fall
Instructor:  Bill Greene, MD
Objectives:  At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

  • Discuss the role empathy plays in medicine through reading and writing assignments.
  • Describe the history of contemporary medicine by reading selective literature from 1900 to 2009.
  • Illustrate the attention given to a patient’s language and appearance through writing exercises.
  • Create empathy by the use of writing about one’s own illness.
  • To be exposed to the rich variety of medical experiences through literature.
  • Demonstrate the increase of trust and understanding among classmates through reflective writing about sensitive subjects.
  • Model language during class time that is open and respective.   

Washington State University
University of Idaho

Contacts: Marlane Martonick, marlanem@uidaho.edu  or 
               Maureen Evermann, evermann@wsu.edu
 

Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (1)

Goals for this CR/NC course include focus on basic grammar and terminology that will allow students to communicate with a predominantly Spanish-speaking patient and provision with vocabulary needed to perform a physical exam; Credit will be based on attendance and demonstrated ability of the student to conduct a simulated interview with a Spanish-speaking patient.
Offered: Spring
Faculty: Francisco Saavedra, MD

Management of Stress and Maladaptive Responses (1)

One credit selective course offered to first-year WWAMI medical students. The primary goals are first, to train students in the effective use of coping skills both in themselves and their patients. Second, the goal is to educate students in the awareness and management of maladaptive responses to stress, both in themselves and their patients. The format of each day is a combination of panel presentations, lectures and small group discussions. Presenters include practicing physicians, their partners, and counselors who treat impaired physicians.
Offered: Fall and Spring (must attend both sessions for the 1 credit)
Faculty: Becky Conley, MD

Balint Professional Development Seminar (1)

The Balint Professional Development Seminar (BPDS) is a 1 credit selective for medical students who are interested in learning more about the doctor-patient relationship through small group case presentations and increased skill development. The seminar will meet during the Spring semester on alternating weeks, in the evenings for 90 minutes. Doctor-patient relationship issues and skills will be addressed using the Balint training method and with trained Balint leaders. Balint group training is a well developed method of understanding the provider/patient relationship and learning therapeutic possibilities of communicating skillfully with patients. The participants bring problem cases for discussion with their peer-colleagues. The extended group discussions create an ongoing learning environment. The agenda for discussion in each meeting is formed by the cases which the participants bring for discussion. They are regarded as "problems" when the impede the successful management of the patient and patient care or interfere with the degree of comfort the provider experiences.
Offered: Spring
Faculty: Andrew Turner, PhD G H 501

Introduction to Global Health (1)

A basic introduction to Global Health.  Addresses a variety of themes in global health which serve as a base for an introductory-level understanding of the field. Emphasizes the diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on global health.
Offered:  Fall Semester (Video conferenced from Seattle)
Faculty:  Daren Wade, Virginia Gonzales

University of Wyoming

Contact:  Kelly Hubbell, khubbell@uwyo.edu

Academic Counseling (1)

Academic Counseling builds on the content students gain from Systems of Human Behavior. Students are given the opportunity to explore topics in greater depth through reflective writing and case studies. Course content changes slightly from year to year depending on student interests, however past topics have covered: the joy and stress of being married while in medical school; the impact popular culture stereotypes have on doctors and patients; handling frustrations when patients don't make recommended lifestyle changes; and concrete ways for providing feedback to patients, staff, and colleagues.
Offered: Spring

Interdisciplinary Team Approach to Health (1)

Topic varies. Alzheimer’s Example: Students will integrate the medical, social, and pharmacological needs and responses evoked by illness from an interdisciplinary perspective. The role of the health provider as a team member in concern with the patient, the patient’s family, and other specially trained providers will be examined.
Offered: Fall 
 

Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependence (1)

Students will experience the extent to which addictions occur within the health care community.  They will become familiar with programs and resources that exist for intervening with health care professionals and will examine the biological changes that reinforce addiction.  Students will recognize NIDA as a resource for themselves, as professional health care providers, and for their patients as well as attend a 12-step meeting.
Offered: Spring
Faculty: Dr. Bert Toews

G H 501 Introduction to Global Health (1) 

A basic introduction to Global Health.  Addresses a variety of themes in global health which serve as a base for an introductory-level understanding of the field. Emphasizes the diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on global health. 
Offered:  Fall Semester (Video conferenced from Seattle)
Faculty:  Daren Wade, Virginia Gonzales