MSII Instructions

MLC II : Introduction and Guidelines for Students (2012-2013)
Course Director: Paul F. Shanley, M.D.
Assistant Director: Karen C. Kelly, M.S. (kellykc@upstate.edu)

What does this course consist of?

What is new for 2012-2013?

What are the goals of the course?

The goal of the course is to make the student conversant in the language of medicine and to provide a conceptual and experiential framework for the student’s education and future training. The emphasis is on “pathophysiology” which is understood as mechanisms of disease at the organ system level.  Pathophysiology provides the transition from basic to clinical science since organ dysfunction is still the level at which most clinical assessment and intervention occurs. Additional expected benefits of the approach include facilitation of integration of the basic science curriculum, smoother transition from basic science to clinical clerkships, and promoting independent, self-structured learning.

How will I find the cases?

The list with the dates that students will be responsible for having read and studied each case and any associated supplemental articles and/or handouts is found on the "Schedule" tab on the website under "MLC II ." The full-text PDF files will come up by clicking on the title (off-campus access requires iPage log-in).

How do I study the cases? What am I expected to do?

The student’s overall objective is “to understand and be able to explain the underlying mechanisms of what happens to the patients and the rationale for what is done or discussed by the authors” in the case reports. The student will not be expected to “solve” the cases (i.e., make a diagnosis or determine appropriate management). Since the student will have the entire published report on each case, it is merely a matter of reading the report of how experts do these things and filling in the background information that allows one to follow along.  To this end, the student should pursue the following specific objectives:

• Attain an understanding of the biology of disease and apply knowledge of the relevant background concepts in the basic sciences to the case reports and readings.
• Define all medical terminology used in the case presentation.
• Compile notes on the facts of the case in standard format for case write-up.
• Generate a problem list and attempt to group findings into pathophysiologic syndromes.
• Formulate a differential diagnosis for each of the patient’s major problems at each stage of the clinical presentation, incorporating an evidence-based medicine framework for structuring and applying scientific knowledge into the clinical reasoning process.
• Relate the clinical data and further workup to sorting among the diagnostic possibilities and determine the basis for interpretation of any special studies used in the work-up of the case.
• Determine the mechanism of action and rationale for each drug or other therapeutic intervention used in the case.
• Summarize the prototypical features of each disease in the differential diagnosis suggested by the discussant in the case report and outline the author’s clinical reasoning in discussing the diagnostic hypotheses.
• Construct a “pathophysiologic hypothesis” to account for the clinical findings based on the patient’s underlying diseases.
• Acquire the ability to critically assess scientific data presented in terms of the conclusions drawn by the authors, identify what is established and what the question is with respect to the clinical issue being addressed and appropriately apply the findings to specific clinical problems.
• Develop awareness of the ethical issues raised by the case reports and/or readings (e.g., conflicts of interest, patient safety, informed consent, etc.).
• Demonstrate an attitude of curiosity, skepticism, humility in the face of the unknown and intent to pursue a career of lifelong diligent questioning and learning along with a commitment to professionalism.

Medical school program objectives related to the courses



Relationship of course objectives to medical program objectives and assessment



Where should I go to get information on what I don’t understand?

Interaction and discussion of the cases among students is strongly encouraged. Ultimately the individual student is responsible for ensuring that the information obtained from peers (or instructors) is accurate. There is no recourse to “authority” (course instructors, guest faculty) other than a consensus of published material.

What textbooks are being used in the course?

• The first quiz on a given case or reading
  • "Closed book" quiz assessing general understanding of the facts of the case or reading; no typed or handwritten material allowed
    
• Follow-up quizzes on a given case or reading
  • Quizzes will be “open paper, open notes” assessing deeper, mechanistic understanding of the events of the case or reading; both the published paper and any handwritten notes are allowed along with your pathophysiologic hypothesis; no other typed or Xeroxed material is permitted. Textbooks may not be utilized during in-class quizzes.
• The usage of electronic devices during quizzes is prohibited.

3.     The quizzes related to each case or reading will cover the specific objectives listed previously. All class discussion on general or case-specific objectives will come after the quiz related to them. Please do not go to instructors for case-specific individual help before the quiz . One fundamental idea of this course is to learn how to gather, structure and evaluate information independently.

Are class sessions videotaped?

Class sessions will largely consist of interactive discussion with instructors and will not be videotaped.

What if I want to dispute an answer to a quiz question?

Rather than debate quiz answers during class time or with instructors afterwards, students are encouraged to send a formal written challenge, citing a published reference if possible, supporting a different answer to Karen Kelly via e-mail in a timely manner following posting of the quiz answers. Quiz answers will be posted on the MLC web page under the "Answer Keys" tab for the course following review by instructors, typically later that same day following the quiz. Faculty review of quiz questions will occur and will sometimes result in extra credit, dropped questions or alternative acceptable answers. Any modifications will be posted to the online answer key; due to time constraints, students will not receive an individual response to quiz question challenges.

What is the “Pathophysiologic Hypothesis” that we have to hand in?

Submission of a pathophysiologic hypothesis outlining reasonable causes for the patient's problems in terms of known underlying disease processes is required for select cases and readings as a criterion for passing the course. The format for this exercise will be discussed and demonstrated. Instructions and examples are found on the course website by clicking on the following links for "Hypothesis Format" and "Sample Hypothesis." Students should include not only their own ID number on the assignment, but the ID number(s) of any students they collaborate with on the task as well.

Students must electronically submit their "pathophysiologic hypothesis" via Blackboard by 8 a.m. on the date of the session specified unless otherwise indicated.. Any student that does not submit an assigned hypothesis will be required to complete a make-up exercise, necessitating reading a different case at the end of the academic year and submitting a hypothesis on it. Late submissions (i.e, prior to class discussion of the case) of a hypothesis will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis but may involve forfeiture of points.

The adequacy of hypotheses will be periodically reviewed by course faculty, and should any issues be found, may lead to a more extensive review of a given individual's portfolio. Depending on the type, extent, and severity of the problem, this may lead to a requirement for remedial work or referral to judicial review.

What will happen in the class sessions?

Most classes will begin with a quiz. The remaining time in class will be utilized by instructors to respond to questions posed by the students about the case. These will not be lecture sessions. Students should ask questions during class rather than waiting until after class.In the interest of fairness to all students, instructors will not answer case-specific questions individually outside of class time.

What is the grading policy?

Evaluation will be primarily through the use of multiple quizzes related to each case report or assigned supplemental reading. There will be several quizzes per week. This will add up to more than 50 quizzes during the course. Each question counts for one point and the final grade will be calculated by dividing the number of questions answered correctly by the total number of counted questions in all quizzes.

In addition to the quizzes, students will have written assignments, including a “pathophysiologic hypothesis” for select cases.  These will not be scored in the point totals but will be periodically reviewed by faculty. Successful completion of all hypotheses will be required to pass the course; the best defense against being singled out for review is to make an honest effort; disregard for the spirit of the exercise may result in course failure or disciplinary action. Any student that submits a hypothesis that is deemed unsatisfactory by faculty may be asked to revise it and will have their entire portfolio reviewed.

Cheating (e.g, infractions outlined in the honor code, such as utilizing unauthorized material or electronic devices for quizzes, academic dishonesty, etc.) will be actively monitored and a 50-point penalty assessed if confirmed and the matter referred to the College of Medicine Professionalism Officer for possible further action.

There are no questions for this course on the unit exams and there is no final exam in this course.

The passing grade is 75%. Grades of “honors” or “high pass” will be assigned according to school policy.

What happens if I have to be absent and miss a quiz?

• Students who are absent for an excused* reason (an e-mail to Karen Kelly stating the reason is required; * examples of legitimate excuses designated by the Curriculum Coordinating Committee include illness of oneself or a close family member, death of a close friend or family member, conference attendence, etc) will be allowed to make-up up to 10% of the total questions in the course by taking a new quiz during the last week of classes. The make-up quiz will be based on the reading of one or more additional cases depending on the number of points missed. The case(s) will be assigned at that time. More extensive details regarding the make-up process can be found on Blackboard.
• Absences constituting more than 10% of the course will result in a grade of Incomplete. Additional cases beyond the make-up will be required.
• Absences constituting more than 20% of the course will result in the student being administratively withdrawn from the course and having to repeat it the following academic year.

Some questions on individual quizzes or even entire quizzes may be designated as “extra credit.” These questions will be counted in the numerator but not the denominator of the grade calculation. “Extra credit” questions cannot be made up.

What happens if need to withdraw from the course?

Students needing to withdraw from the course by the end of Unit 4 (November 22, 2012) will receive a grade of "W" for the course. After 50% of the course has been completed (start of Unit 5 on November 26, 2012 and beyond), a grade of "WP" or "WF" will be given depending on academic performance up to that point.

What happens if I fail the course?

Deficient grades will be remediated as prescribed by the Grades and Promotions Committee.

A failure will require that the student repeat the course the following academic year. There is no summer remedial course that fulfills this requirement.

Who should I contact with questions or problems?

Direct all correspondence, including absence notes and formal challenges to quiz questions to Karen Kelly (kellykc@upstate.edu).