* Course credits pertain to 2024-2025 academic year.
Assessment, Consolidation, and Exam Skills (ACES): MBACE-MAIN
This course's goal is to facilitate the development of strategies for self-assessment and optimization of self-regulated learning and exam skills while consolidating knowledge foundational to medicine.
Credits: 0.50
Course Director: Elisha Acosta, M.D.
Associate Course Directors: Rathi Asaithambi, M.D., M.P.H., Ed.M. and Mostafa Belghasem, Ph.D.
Behavioral and Neurologic Sciences (BNS): MBBNS-MAIN
The purpose of this course is to facilitate the integrated development of knowledge and skills related to the care of patients and populations with conditions of the nervous system, including neurologic and behavioral health disorders with consideration of ethical principles, professional wellness, and diverse research areas.
Credits: 5.50
Course Co-Directors: Atul Maheshwari, M.D., and Sindhu Idicula, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Steven Bellows, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Matthew McMillin, Ph.D.
Cardiac, Respiratory, Renal (CRR): MBCRR-MAIN
The Cardiac, Respiratory, Renal course is designed to facilitate the integrated development of knowledge and skills related to the care of patients with cardiac, respiratory, and renal conditions in conjunction with
ethical principles, health systems, professional roles, social determinants, and limitations of evidence-based practice.
Credits: 7.75
Course Co-Directors: Joshua Kailin, M.D., Tobias Schlingmann, M.D., Ph.D., Dharani Narendra, M.D., and Bryan Tucker, D.O., M.S.
Associate Course Director: Stephanie Richardson, Ph.D.
Endocrine, Gastrointestinal, and Genitourinary Systems (EGGS): MBEGG-MAIN
The purpose of this course is to facilitate the integrated development of knowledge and skills related to the care of the patients and populations with conditions of gastrointestinal, endocrine, reproductive, and genitourinary systems, with consideration of ethical principles, advocacy, uncertainty and bias, and professional identity formation.
Credits: 5.75
Course Co-Directors: Richa Shukla, M.D., Nidhi Bansal, M.B., B.S., M.P.H., Jennifer Bercaw-Pratt, M.D., and Nicolette Janzen, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Matthew McMillin, Ph.D.
Foundations of Medicine (FOM): MBFOM-MAIN
The purpose of the Foundations of Medicine course is to understand the fundamentals of structure, function, and relationships of biology to pathology by applying the principles of human health and disease using critical thinking and self-regulated learning.
Credits: 3.25
Course Director: Sandra Haudek, Ph.D., M.S.
Associate Course Directors: Munder Zagaar, Ph.D., Pharm.D. and Susan Ely, Ph.D.
Fundamentals of Academic Scholarship & Translational Research (FASTR): MBFAS-MAIN
The Fundamentals of Academic Scholarship & Translational Research (FASTR) course is designed for students to apply critical thinking skills to understand and engage in an inquiry project using the scientific method. Students will apply the ethical conduct of research principles to an inquiry project, including submission of IRB or equivalent documentation, incorporate epidemiological and statistical methods into a project proposal, and utilize bioinformatics concepts to identify data that can be used to evaluate healthcare delivery.
Credits: 1.5
Course Director: Daryl Scott, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Course Directors: Amee Revana, D.O. and David McClung, Ph.D.
Hematology (HEME): MBHEM-MAIN
The goal of the Hematology course is to develop knowledge and skills related to the care of patients with hematologic conditions with consideration of ethical principles, health systems, physician wellness, and applying evidence-based practice.
Credits: 2.75
Course Director: Andrea Marcogliese, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Amanda Grimes, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Mostafa Belghasem, Ph.D.
Immune, Musculoskeletal, and Integumentary Systems (IMIS): MBIMI-MAIN
This multifaceted course is designed to prepare learners to identify and apply normal and abnormal structures and functions of dermatology, rheumatology, musculoskeletal, and immunologic systems while demonstrating basic principles of diagnostic testing and interpretation to develop skills in taking patient history, communication, and the application of equity and quality care.
Credits: 4.75
Course Directors: Soo Jung Kim, M.D., Ph.D., Ikue Shimizu, M.D., William Decker, Ph.D. and Miriah Gillispie-Taylor, M.D.
Associate Course Director: Susan Ely, Ph.D.
Integrated Systems (IS): MBIS-MAIN
The Integrated Systems course's purpose is to apply knowledge and skills related to the integration of different organ systems emphasizing infectious disease, toxicology, public health, informatics, and nutrition across the age continuum.
Credits: 4.50
Course Director: Shital Patel, M.D., M.Sc.
Associate Course Director: Mostafa Belghasem, Ph.D.
Associate Course Director: Jennifer Whitaker, M.D.
Intersession: Service Learning, Wellness and Narrative Medicine: MCSWN-MAIN
The goal of this course is to introduce students to narrative medicine and service learning as activities that enhance reflection and wellness within clinical practice. Taking place at selected sites throughout Houston, service learning will allow students to work with community service organizations. Through these activities, students will utilize skills that heighten professionalism, empathy, and social interaction; they will identify community needs relevant to an organization and work directly with employees to deliver the services offered. Narrative medicine activities will provide opportunities for reflection with the aim of developing the skills of attention, tolerance for ambiguity, teamwork, sense of purpose/meaning, and empathy. These activities will also provide opportunities for students to recognize the importance of precise written and verbal communication. Wellness topics will be introduced both didactically and through active learning with the aim of imparting experience and knowledge in multiple wellness dimensions, including physical, spiritual, financial, environmental, emotional, intellectual, and social.
Credits: 0.5
Course Co-Directors: Anisha Turner, M.D. and Ricardo Nuila, M.D.
Practice of Medicine (POM) I: Essential Concepts: MBPM1-MAIN
The Practice of Medicine I course is designed to confer fundamental clinical skills – including history taking, physical examination, point-of-care ultrasound, clinical reasoning, and communication – while facilitating positive, professional identity formation. The course will introduce students to inpatient and outpatient clinical environments to practice hypothesis-driven data collection and enhance verbal and written communication. The course covers a range of systems and symptoms, including cardiac, respiratory, and hematologic conditions.
Credits: 3.75
Course Director: Shruti Varadarajan, M.D.
Associate Course Directors: Kamna Bansal, M.B., B.S. and Ana Crew, D.O.
Practice of Medicine (POM) II: Expanding Fundamentals: MBPM2-MAIN
The Practice of Medicine II course focuses on developing essential skills in history taking, physical examination, diagnostic schema formulation, and effective clinical documentation learned in POM I. The course covers various systems and symptoms, including musculoskeletal, dermatologic, abdominal, endocrine/reproductive, neurologic, mental health, HEENT, and chronic conditions. Students will learn to elicit more comprehensive histories, perform thorough examinations, recognize abnormal findings, and integrate multiple viewpoints into their strategies. Additionally, students will further develop clinical reasoning abilities and understand the importance of problem representation and summary statements in diagnosis. The course also emphasizes patient-centered care and effective documentation of clinical encounters in preparation for clinical experiences.
Credits: 5.50
Course Director: Shruti Varadarajan, M.D.
Associate Course Directors: Kamna Bansal, M.B., B.S. and Ana Crew, D.O.
Transition to Medicine (TTM): MBTTM-MAIN
The Transition to Medicine course is designed to prepare learners with introductory knowledge and skills to be successful in medical school and the practice of medicine.
Credits: 4.25
Course Director: Shruti Varadarajan, M.D.
Associate Course Directors: Robert McArthur, M.D. and Ana Crew, D.O.
