Course Detail

The course provides an overview of the important concepts in clinical pharmacology.  Emphasis is placed on understanding general principles that can be applied to a number of drugs and diseases rather than presenting individual drug details.  A major goal throughout the course is the stimulation of curosity and interest in the subject matter.  Areas addressed are: basic concepts of traditional pharmacology, the major disease categories and their therapies, how physicians select and use drugs and devices, and concepts of benefit and risk analysis.  

1. Introduction and Overview.  The State of the Art

I. Biology and Reality
2. The Basics I: Pharmacokinetics
3. The Basics II: Toxicology
4. The Basics III: Autonomics
5. The Basics IV: Receptors and Truth: How Drugs Work
6. Neurology: Transmitter/Receptor Systems in Action

II. Biodynamics 1
7. Bacteria and the Birth of Modern Pharmacology: Introduction to Antibiotics
8. Viruses: Upper Respiratory Illnesses and the Holy Grail
9. Parasites: Endemic and Epidemic Diseases
10. Gastroenterology: Barbarians at the Gates

III. Biodynamics 2
11. Anemia: Vampires, Racehorses, and the Birth of Biotech
12. Psychiatry: Mother Nature is Depressed; The Forms of Mental Illness
13. Endocrinology I: Diabetes, the Background Killer
14. Cardiovascular Disease: The Reaper’s Scythe
15. Review/Exam

Spring 2008

IV. Biodynamics 3
16. Inflammation I: Killer Sepsis and Pharmaceutical Frustration
17: Arrhythmias and Anticoagulants: Chaos and Complexity in Action
18. Inflammation II: Arthritis and Headaches and Butterflies
19. Inflammation III: Asthma and Allergy: Pharmacological Disarmament
20. Cancer Medicine: Failure and Hope

V. Biology and Society
21. The Art of the Clinical Trial: Definitions of Truth
22. Nonprescription Drugs and Neutraceuticals: The Back Door
23. A Physician’s View of Drug Marketing
24. Medical Devices and Tests

VI. Biology and the Individual
25. An Introduction to the Real World of Medicine:  Pneumonia
26. Risk Revisited: The Nosocomial Horror Show
27. Benefit Analysis I: Estrogen Therapy; Osteoporosis
28. Benefit Analysis II:  Pain and its management
29. Benefit Analysis III: Lifestyle drugs
30. Review/Examination

By the end of the course students will be familiar with:
1.      Basics of traditional pharmacology
2.      General concepts of the most common disease classes
3.      Basic properties of the major drug classes
4.      Clinical assessment of drug benefits and risks
5.      Cost as an issue
6.      Some prominent pharmaceutical successes and failures

Grading will include quizzes,  papers, a final examination, and presentations.  The class will have a say in the number and weighting of these components.