Medicine at the Benchtop and the Bedside: Course Guidelines

Robert H. Chow, MD PhD

USC-Caltech MD-PhD Program

Keck School of Medicine

• Seminar course for MD-PhD students• Purpose:

– to introduce a clinical problem and research related to that problem– to introduce the faculty and their research – to keep your mind active and curious during the

first two years of med school!

• Two students present – 2nd-yr student presents clinical problem– 1st-yr student presents research paper

• One or two faculty mentors

Medicine at the Benchtop and the Bedside

Friday, September 25, 2009Faculty facilitator: Dr. Robert ChowStudent facilitator: none

Friday, October 16, 2009Faculty facilitator/s: Dr. James Weiland and Dr. Rajat AgrawalStudent facilitators: TBA

Friday, October 23, 2009Faculty facilitator/s: Dr. Peter Jones and TBAStudent facilitators: TBA

Friday, October 30, 2009Faculty facilitator/s: Dr. Ellis Meng and Dr. Uttam SinhaStudent facilitators: TBA

Friday, November 20, 2009Faculty facilitator/s: Dr. Shelly Lu and TBAStudent facilitators: TBA

Friday, December 4, 2009Faculty facilitator/s: Dr. Andrea Armani and Dr. Jane EmersonStudent facilitators: TBA

Tentative Outline

Following this slide are two sets of slides which can serve as templates

for the student presentations

• The mentor(s) may decide that an alternative format is preferable, in which case follow the mentors’ guidelines

Template for Clinical PresentationFor Medicine at the Benchtop

and Bedside

Robert H. Chow

Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute

History of

• if there are juicy tidbits about the history of this clinical problem or the research…

Case Presentation

• Chief complaint

• History of presenting illness

• Physical Examination

• Pertinent laboratory findings

Clinical Presentation: Symptoms/Signs

• What is difference between a symptom and a sign?

• In detail, typical presenting symptoms and signs

Diagnosis

• Pathognomonic signs/symptoms

• Lab tests

• Possible springboard for the research part of this seminar

Differential Diagnosis• Here, you list and discuss other diagnoses

that should be considered for the presenting signs/symptoms

Natural history

• The clinical course of the disease/ illness when no treatment is given

• Possible springboard for research portion of seminar

Epidemiology

• Characteristics at population level

• Possible springboard for research portion of seminar

Etiology/Pathogenesis

• May review pertinent anatomy/ physiology here

• Possible springboard for the research part of this seminar

Therapy/Response

• Current approach to therapy

• Scientific basis of therapy (or lack thereof !) -- another springboard for the reseach part of the seminar

Other interesting aspects of the clinical problem

• Clinically relevant offshoots…

Template for Research Paper Presentation For Medicine at the Benchtop and Bedside

Robert H. Chow

Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute

Title of Article

Authors (at least the first and last)

Institutional Affiliation(s)

Major Hypothesis or Question

• Subhypothesis/ subquestion 1

• Subhypothesis/ subquestion 2

• Etc.

Background

• Short rationale or history of study of this hypothesis

Preparation

• Which animal/ tissue/ cell type used for the study• Any relevant details about the preparation,

particularly justification for using this preparation

Materials and Methods

• Method(s) used to perform study• Approach to analysis

Result 1

• Usually a figure clipped from paper

Result 2

• Another figure…

• It’s not necessary to review every figure in the paper, just the ones you want to focus on

• Etc.

Author’s Conclusions

• Summarize what the authors state is the important conclusion(s) of the paper

Critique of Paper

• Similar to review of submitted manuscript or grant proposal

• Evaluate the paper:– Author’s expertise– Validity of approach/ model/ methods– Quality of data– Validity of analysis– Validity of conclusions– Thoughts on how the study might have been improved--------------------------------------------------------------– Ideas on how to follow up on the findings of the paper…