M.A. in Biomedical Sciences – Curriculum

The MABS curriculum consists of 35 credit hours of coursework, divided into two semesters. All classes are taught live, in a classroom dedicated to the MABS program and primarily taught by faculty who teach the same topics in the VCOM D.O. program. The semesters are broken down as follows:

Course Descriptions

Health Policy and Determinants of Health

Course Number: BMS 5012
Credit Hours: 3

This three credit hour course provides students an understanding of the components of the United States’ healthcare system and how current and proposed policies may impact the costs, quality and accessibility of health care services. The students will be introduced to how health care is organized, delivered and reimbursed. Topics for discussion will include, but not necessarily be limited to the uninsured, health care disparities, health care cost, the role of public health, the health care workforce, and prevention. All topics, where applicable, will be discussed in the context of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and the intended and potential unintended consequences of the legislation.

Biochemistry

Course Number: BMS 5104
Credit Hours: 3

This course emphasizes biochemical compounds, processes and systems, designed to provide the student with sufficient coverage of biochemical principles to facilitate learning and understanding in other biomedical and clinical science courses studied in a medical school environment to include the following topics:

1. Protein Structure and Function
2. Metabolic basis of disease
3. Macromolecular synthesis (DNA, RNA, Protein, and Lipid)
4. Energy generation, storage, and retrieval by the body
5. Use biochemical concepts in the process of clinical problem solving
6. Correlate biochemical concepts with clinical presentations of (clinical) cases
7. Develop collegiality through teamwork with other students

Human Nutrition

Course Number: BMS 5240
Credit Hours: 3

This course includes advanced principles of the biochemistry, anatomy and physiology related to nutrition and focuses on the role of nutrition science in an individual’s diet and health. Topics include macro- and micronutrients; digestion, absorption, and metabolism; body composition and weight management; vegetarianism; chronic disease; life cycle nutritional needs; food safety; and environmental issues. An evaluation of personal dietary habits using current dietary guidelines and nutritional assessment methods will also be completed to help students assess their own nutritional health.

Immunology

Course Number: BMS 5308
Credit Hours: 3

This course emphasizes the principles and concepts of immunology as they pertain to clinical medicine, with a combination of didactic lectures and case-based and problem-based scenarios. Topics include cells and organs of the immune system, B and T cell development and activation, major histocompatibility complex, antigen processing and presentation, antibody diversity, tolerance, complement, cytokines, inflammation, hypersensitivity, vaccines, autoimmunity and immunodeficiency diseases, and host-pathogen interactions.

Genetics with Clinical Correlations

Course Number: BMS 5313
Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the underlying basic principles of human genetics as they apply to clinical medicine. The course contains basic concepts in genetics, including concepts of genes, traits, and inheritance; molecular aspects of gene expression, including DNA, RNA, and protein metabolism; the overall organization of the human genome, including gene organization, repetitive elements, and human variation; inheritance patterns for disease, including complicating factors; and clinical aspects of epigenetics, cancer, population genetics, pharmacogenetics, gene therapy and genetic screening programs. The student will be introduced to a number of genetic diseases with a focus on the genetic principles underlying those diseases. This course is taught in a lecture-based format and the student is tested through written or computer examinations.

Histology/Embryology

Course Number: BMS 5410
Credit Hours: 4

The course will focus on the two sub-disciplines of anatomy not covered in the Anatomy course – histology (microscopic anatomy) and embryology (developmental anatomy). Both disciplines will be covered with emphasis on general principles and concepts as they pertain to clinical medicine, with a combination of didactic lectures and laboratory exercises.

Field Seminar

Course Number: BMS 5512
Credit Hours: 2; Pass/Fail

Students will be placed in an Appalachian setting and spend 20+ hours interacting with populations who have limited access to basic health care due to remote site location, poverty, or other factors. Students will typically be involved in public health education for children, adult health education and/or other activities. Journal reflections and case study reports will comprise a portion of this course.

Medical Anatomy

Course Number: BMS 5616
Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the gross anatomy of the human body with special emphasis on anatomical relationships, form/function relationships and how changes in anatomical forms can lead to disease states. Material is presented in a systems-based format, similar to what is used in the VCOM D.O. Program. Surface anatomy, cross-sectional anatomy and various imaging modalities are utilized with laboratories. Plastinated cadaveric material and digital anatomical models may also be used.

Cell Physiology

Course Number: BMS 5718
Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to provide essential concepts in medical physiology for future career in medicine and medical research. This information will be categorized into seven sections within one semester. Cell and muscle physiology, autonomic and endocrine regulation of body systems, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and reproductive physiology will be covered. We will focus on normal physiological function of the major human organ systems and will discuss pathophysiology when it reinforces or highlights a particular physiological mechanism. Various approaches will be utilized including lectures, lecture notes, learning objectives, recommended readings from textbooks and primary sources, large and small group conferences, clinical case examples, and formal self-studies.

Neuroscience

Course Number: BMS 5719
Credit Hours: 2

Neuroscience will begin with a foundation of cellular physiology including the topics of membrane physiology, the ionic and molecular basis of resting and action potentials, synaptic transmission, the physiology of neurotransmitters, and post-synaptic response and cellular signaling. This will build to the topics and motor, sensory and cognitive pathways with an emphasis on the associated anatomy and physiology. Finally, organs of special senses and their associated pathways will be discussed. Throughout the course, particular emphasis will be placed on topics of clinical relevance.

Microbiology

Course Number: BMS 5818
Credit Hours: 3

Students will learn the structure, morphology, classification, isolation, identification, physiology, and life cycle of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The course will focus on cell biology, genetics, virology, bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, and interactions with mammalian hosts. Examples will be given from medically important organisms with reference to the diseases they cause, their epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis. Minimal detail will be given to the clinical aspect of microbial or parasitic diseases or to the host’s immune response during an infection.

Research and Biostatistics

Course Number: BMS 5920
Credit Hours: 3

Students will learn research techniques and biostatistics routinely used in clinical, biomedical and epidemiological research. Background material on the methods will be presented in lectures, and class will breakup to work in groups for discussion and group report preparation. Data from the international component of the Field Seminar experience will be utilized for analysis and generation of a poster worthy of presentation at a national professional meeting.

Anatomical Imaging

Course Number: BMS 5902
Credit Hours: 2

This course provides descriptions of common clinical imaging modalities and their associated applications. The content is organized by anatomical region, and includes a survey of radiologically salient anatomy, interpretation of clinical imaging, and a review of common pathology evaluated in radiological settings. Students will gain experience using the basic tools of a DICOM viewer for evaluating multiplanar volumetric scans (computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)), as well as exposure to fundamental sonography protocols.

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