Bob Hansman
runs nationially recognized City Faces program
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Bob Hansman runs nationially recognized City Faces program |
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Physicians, students rave about Mini-Medical School By Kimberly Leydig
Whatever the case may be, everyone from stay-at-home moms to top executives rave about the University's Mini-Medical School Program. That might be because many of the School of Medicine's world-renowned physicians teach the courses, which cover everything from how to treat nagging sports injuries to new treatments for mental illness. Students also tour facilities such as the Genome Sequencing Center and participate in hands-on laboratories. Cynthia Wichelman, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and Mini-Medical School course director, said that the students are always a "pleasure to teach, with their varied backgrounds and keen interest in medicine." After students requested another course, Mini-Medical School III was introduced last fall. In the advanced course, students learn from medical experts -- and their patients -- in compelling presentations on several fascinating diseases. Each of the three courses, which are limited to 110 students, consists of eight two-hour evening sessions that cover a wide spectrum of medicine presented in an easy-to-understand style. "Without exception, the subject matter and the speakers were as good as I have heard in many years of study," said former student and engineer Tim Giddens. "The topics were presented in a way a layperson could understand and apply the knowledge." But it's not just aspiring students that benefit from the program. Teaching Mini-Medical School, said Stephen S. Lefrak, M.D., professor of medicine and dean and director of the Program for Humanities in Medicine, is in some ways like all teaching: The teacher benefits more than the students. "It helps me clarify what the important issues really are in medical ethics before the public," Lefrak said. "The questions from the attendees provide a focus that is frequently different than that from health care professionals. It is illuminating to hear from young people, lawyers, business executives and others who have creative ideas, new perspectives and whose voices are unfortunately frequently missing from 'medical' discussions." "It is very interesting to discuss developing medical treatments with such a diverse group of people," added Ralph G. Dacey Jr., M.D., the Edith R. and Henry G. Schwartz professor and chairman of neurological surgery. Wichelman stressed that the medical school's exceptional faculty is why the program is such a continuing success. "If it wasn't for the faculty, Mini-Med School wouldn't be what it is today. I am most grateful to our outstanding faculty -- they support the program and return year after year." |
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