University of Alaska, Anchorage
Contact: Maryann Kniffen, anmik@uaa.alaska.edu
Ethics in Clinical Medicine (1) Offered: Spring
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 Faculty: Dr. Thomas Buller, Associate Professor of Philosophy.
Montana State University
Contact: Barbara Gledhil, bgledhill@montana.edu
Literature & Medicine: The Poetics of Healing (1)
Offered: Spring Semester.
In five two-hour sessions, we will discuss the ways in which issues in modern medicine become defined in language and image. Through fiction, poetry, essay, and film, we will consider dimensions of the doctor-patient relationship, health and illness, pain and suffering, hope and healing. In this way, we will become mindful of the ways our lives as physicians and patients can be more holistic and therefore healthier. Class topics include autonomy in life and death; a doctor’s story; familial dimensions of pain, suffering, and hope; contemporary issues: the black market body and the virtual body. Prerequisite: WWAMI medical student or consent of the WWAMI Medical Program and the Instructor. Faculty: Kimberly Myers, Ph.D. - Course Chair.
Medical History Conference (1) Offered: Fall Semester.
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 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. Last year's added lecture dealt with opportunities for women in surgical centers.
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (1) Offered: Fall and Spring Semester.
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. Faculty: Barbara Komlos, M.A. - Course Chair.
Washington State University
University of Idaho
Contact: Marlane Martonick marlanem@uidaho.edu or Maureen Evermann evermann@wsu.edu
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals (1)Offered: Spring
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. Faculty: Francisco Saavedra, M.D
Management of Stress and Maladaptive Responses (WSU/UI) (1)
Offered: Fall and Spring (must attend both sessions for the 1 credit) 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. Faculty: Becky Conley, M.D.
Balint Professional Development Seminar
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 alearning therapuetic 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 nd 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. (approved 12/20/06) Faculty: Andrew Turner, PhD
University of Wyoming
Contact: Kelly Hubbell, khubbell@uwyo.edu
Academic Counseling (1) Offered: Spring
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.
Interdisciplinary Team Approach to Health(1) Offered: Spring
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.