Course Syllabus
Please note that there might be some small changes to the syllabus up to the beginning of the semester
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2024 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Biology, Biomedicine / Biotechnology, Pre-Medicine / Health Science |
| Prerequisites: |
One year of biology and one year of chemistry at the university level |
| Corequisites: |
Students have to be enrolled in the human health and disease core course |
| Faculty Members: |
Elisa Skovgaard Current students please use the canvas inbox to contact |
| Teaching Assistant: |
Borislav Pekez |
| Course Assistants: |
TBD Current students please use the canvas inbox to contact |
| Program contact: |
Science and Health Department |
| Program Director: |
Susana Dietrich |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays and Thursdays, 08:30 - 11:25 (please see the individual times in the canvas calendar as they are subject to change from class to class) N7-B11 |
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Faculty
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Elisa Skovgaard Jensen M.D. (University of Copenhagen, 2012). PhD student at the Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Department at Nordsjællands Hospital, Hillerød. DIS Clinical Instructor for Human Health & Disease. With DIS since 2017. |
Teaching assistant
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Borislav Pekez MD (Medical studies, University of Zagreb, 2018). BSc (Psychology, University of Nebraska, 2011). Psychiatry Junior Doctor, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Republic of Ireland, 2021. Medical intern, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia, 2019-2020. With DIS since 2023. |
Course Assistants
|
TBD |
Course Description
This hands-on lab course will focus on specific diseases and follow the diagnosis and treatment pathway of a surgical patient from admission to discharge. You will learn relevant anatomy and physiology through virtual reality (VR) alongside traditional approaches. Learn how to perform a basic ultrasound evaluation and how to diagnose common CT pathologies. Furthermore, you will learn basic surgical skills and interventions to perform surgical procedures with the use of laparoscopic simulators.
Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course you will be able to:
- Describe the surgical patient care flow through the healthcare system
- Identify and locate organs and anatomically relevant tissues relating to a specific disease and/or surgery
- Compare and contrast diagnostic options, and discuss when surgery is the treatment option
- Understand the capabilities and limitations of diagnostic modalities and how they support the diagnostic process
- Name the different surgical equipment and identify when each should be used
- Demonstrate how different surgical equipment should be held and used
- Perform some of the most common pre-op procedures
- Execute different types of surgery procedures, using a simulation approach
- Describe possible operative and post-op complications, and prioritize the follow up action according to severity and possible outcomes
- Show different suturing techniques and justify when to use each
Approach to teaching
The course will focus on using a hands-on approach to learning. Students will be given all necessary information, through a surgeon’s eye, regarding all aspects surrounding specific surgical procedures. Assignments and tests will assess relevant theoretical and practical knowledge.
Expectations of the students
Students are expected to actively participate in all activities related to the course. Additionally, students should come duly prepared for each class. Students should be willing to follow a surgeon’s approach to preparation for surgery, which includes a lot of training and executing the same type of procedure repeatedly in order to optimize performance.
Lab simulation work
The course will have at least 3/4 practical hands on work. This will include performing and training pre-op, operative, and post-op procedures, as well as surgical simulation. Additionally most of the anatomical prerequisites necessary for this course will also be taught through various VR platforms.
Required Readings
Readings from the Human Health and Disease: a Clinical Approach Core Course books.
Additional readings regarding specific important information and instructions relating to specific procedures will be posted on canvas.
Evaluation
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class all of the assigned work must be completed.
The factors influencing the final grade and their weights are reported in the following table:
| Participation | 10% |
| Anatomy and CT test | 20% |
| Surgery performance based test | 20% |
| Ultrasound performance based assessment | 20% |
| Final surgical assignment | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Participation
Class participation is an important part of this course and to receive full credit students should be present at all the scheduled classes and actively participate.
Anatomy and CT test
An individual test comprised of two parts:
- Essay questions related to abdominal organs/structures which are covered in class
- For the CT portion:
- A series of abdominal CT images (printed) where the student is asked to name specific organs and/or structures in the image.
- 1 or 2 CT scans of real patient cases, where the student will be asked to identify the most likely diagnosis.
Surgery performance based test
This individual test is a hands-on test in knots and sutures from your curriculum .
Ultrasound performance based assessment
This hands-on assessment is comprised of a ultrasound and CT portion. For the ultrasound portion, the student will be asked to perform an abdominal ultrasound scan on a simulated patient, where the student will be asked to identify and/or measure the size of various abdominal organs.
Final surgical assignment
This individual assignment will focus on suturing techniques, anastomosis and laparoscopic skills.
NB: notes are not allowed for either tests, assessments or assignments.
Academic Regulations:
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
We ask for understanding if the schedule changes during the semester.
The doctors that you will be taught by are full-time doctors and cannot commit 100% to the schedule provided.
If changes do occur to the schedule, you will be notified.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|