FRS 002NN —
Sec. 001 — (2
units) — CRN 73979 — W 9:00-10:50 am — 203 Surge IV
Epidemiology – The Study of Health in
Populations
Instructor: Philip Kass, Department of Population Health,
& Reproduction,
School of Veterinary Medicine
Description: Epidemiology is a branch of science
devoted to studying
the predictors of health and disease in populations. Unlike classical medical
studies, which focus on individuals, epidemiology devotes its
attention to populations
in order to understand the effects that harmful or protective factors play in
human and animal health. This course is intended to provide a brief overview of
the scientific basis of epidemiology, as well as to introduce
students to examples
of controversial medical topics studied through epidemiologic
research. The course
will involve topical readings, discussions, and evaluating
manuscripts about actual
research investigations into diverse topics such as foodborne disease
outbreaks,
the effects of radiation (including electromagnetic) on cancer risk,
and vaccines
causing tumors in cats. Students will learn the basic study designs
used in medical
research as well as how to measure the effects of factors on health and disease
in populations. The goal of this course is to introduce students
desiring careers
in medicine and veterinary medicine to another related discipline:
epidemiology,
which provides the scientific basis for studying public health.
Students are often
unaware that they can have the greatest possible impact on the health of people
or animals by looking at the health of populations, rather than the health of
individuals. Recognizing that preventive medicine is important in
reducing disease
incidence is just as important as curing disease once it occurs is
another goal.
Because many pre-medical and pre-veterinary students may ultimately
be unsuccessful
in gaining admission to a medical or veterinary medical school,
epidemiology represents
an alluring and intellectually appealing science alternative to
students who wish
to remain in the forefront of the study of health and disease.
Format: The class will meet weekly. There will be
mandatory readings
concerning the scientific basis for understanding epidemiology; these will be
provided by the instructor. Additional required readings will be assigned from
the medical literature; the choice is flexible, depending on the
individual interests
of the students in the class. Students will be asked to read these papers, and
each student will be asked to make a brief presentation about an assigned paper
to the class, followed by a discussion. Students will be expected to write a 5
page paper on an applied epidemiologic subject of interest to them; they will
be expected to do a search of the medical literature and read
appropriate references
as the research component of this paper.
Grading: Students
will be graded on class participation (50%) and on the assigned paper
(50%).
About the
Instructor: