Beginning Monday, Jan. 27, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is offering members of the community a dynamic introduction to human health with a Mini-Med School led by second-year medical students.
Participants will gain valuable insights into how the body functions. During the four-week course, community members will learn about the causes of common physical ailments. Systems examined will include the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, neurology and rheumatology.
Andrea Nazar, D.O., is a professor of Clinical Sciences and the faculty advisor for the Mini-Med School program.
“This is WVSOM’s fifth year to offer a mini-medical school experience,” Nazar said. “We learn something new from each event which helps us to make the next one stronger. It’s exciting to see the program evolve and to partner with members of the community on this learning experience.”
Student organizers for this year’s event are Katrina Dempster and Stephanie Lam from the Class of 2016.
“Each week, participants will be presented with a common symptom, like a headache or joint pain, which might be presented to physicians in their examining rooms,” Lam said. “Throughout each session, participants will learn of the many underlying causes that can manifest themselves in a similar manner.”
The school encourages family and friends to come learn together through the program. This is a hands-on experience, which includes exposure to plastinated body organs and robotic patient simulators. Participants will be exposed to photography and diagrams of internal body systems and invited to use common medical devices like stethoscopes, endotracheal tubes and laryngoscopes.
The program is geared toward curious individuals who want to understand more about how the body works and how to enjoy healthy living at every age. Participants must be 18 or older to attend.
Classes will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday evenings on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3, 10 and 17 at the Clinical Evaluation Center on the WVSOM campus. A $25 registration fee includes all four lectures, course materials and dinner each evening. To enroll in the program, call 304-793-6818 by Jan. 17.