Medical & Graduate Teaching
Graduate School
Neuroscience Graduate Program
The Graduate School's Neuroscience program takes an interdisciplinary approach to this field of study, utilizing faculty from several different departments to deliver advanced research training and fundamental coursework. Students in the program can earn a master's or PhD degree, leading to careers in scientific research, pharmaceutical research, academic administration, public policy and more. Learn more about the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
MD Program
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has been contributing for many years to the teaching of medical students in its two legacy curricula - the Interdisciplinary Foundations of Medicine and the Program for Integrated Learning.
In the medical curriculum that debuted in 2017-2018, Foundations and Frontiers, the department provides content for four major threads, Gross Anatomy, Embryology, Microanatomy and Neuroscience, and participates in multidisciplinary courses integrated with other disciplines and taught during the first two years of medical education where the groundwork for basic and clinical science is established. The course material is presented in various formats including online content, flipped classroom sessions, labs, workshops, team-based learning and case-based learning activities, to promote active and independent learning.
The first year of Foundations and Frontiers includes the following multidisciplinary courses, which involve a major commitment of the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy:
Molecules to Organs
Human Structure and Function 1
Human Structure and Function 2
Gross Anatomy and Embryology Threads
Th
Microanatomy Thread
Th
Medical Neuroscience Thread
Thread Directors: Drs. Francis Sessler and Jed Shumsky
The Neuroscience thread provides extensive information regarding structure and function relationships in the central nervous system. It also provides introductory information on neurophysiology, cellular neuroscience and systems neuroscience topics. It teaches the structure and function of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system with an emphasis on clinical relevance. It teaches students to identify symptoms associated with injury, stroke or common disease entities in the central and peripheral nervous system. It teaches students to identify common neurological problems to provide the necessary background for behavioral science, pharmacology and pathology.
Gross Anatomy Senior Elective
Course Director: Dr. Dennis DePace
The course is offered in several two-week blocks during the senior year of the curriculum. Check the clerkship website for specific times and regions of dissection. Students participate in the teaching of Gross Anatomy labs, assist with administration of practical exams for the first-year students where appropriate, complete an assigned dissection and write a review paper about a specific topic related to the student’s clinical interests but with a focus on anatomy. Students are evaluated on the quality of their dissection, final paper and participation in the required activities of the rotation.
Neuroscience Senior Elective
Course Directors: Drs. Francis Sessler and Jed Shumsky
The course runs concurrently with Human Structure and Function 1 (HSF1) from September to October. It provides a review of medical neurosciences for seniors considering training in neurology, neurosurgery and related areas. Students participate in the teaching of neuroscience labs, write a review paper about a specific topic in neuroscience, research the pros and cons of a treatment, work on a tutorial, and present their work to a panel of faculty. Learn more about the Neuroscience senior elective
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