HuBio
567: The Skin
Overview | Objectives | Grading | Resources | Communications
Course
Overview
The main purpose of The Skin is to teach you about the
structure and function of the skin - the scientific foundation of the
specialty of dermatology. With the exception of detecting skin cancer,
especially melanoma, the primary intention of this course is not to teach you
how to recognize and treat skin disease. That you can do in our fourth year
Dermatology clerkship.
The Skin proceeds in a fairly logical fashion through
various anatomic and conceptual areas that teach you a different facet or
theme of cutaneous biology. There is some calculated overlap between these
themes. Each theme explains how the skin functions normally. Whenever
possible, we attempt to take you to the molecular mechanisms known about
these themes. Since in medicine we are concerned with health and disease, you
also learn about what happens when things go wrong. The hidden beauty of many
skin diseases is the lessons they teach us about normal function. You will
see lots of illustrative skin diseases, both live and in pictures, during
this course.
We teach the lessons of this course in
several different ways. One way is through didactic lectures given by various
faculty members (see Schedule).
Though this may not be the best way to transfer knowledge, for a class of
more than 170 of you, it is efficient. A second method is in small groups
(15-20 students with an instructor). This method is inherently interactive, and usually fun for both students and instructors.
A third method is individual learning via Web sites specifically designed for
this course. Fourth, you will see patients living with skin disease during a
patient demonstration on a Saturday morning (download session
information [13K PDF]) during the course to give you a chance to interact
live in very small groups with patients. Fifth, you will learn from an exam
on the last day of the course: you will learn from reviewing course concepts
in preparation for this, and most of you will learn from the exam itself.
Finally, for those who qualify and desire to do so, writing an honors paper
for this course is another opportunity to learn.
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Course
Objectives
Beyond striving to help you understand the
biology of the skin, this course also gives you a solid foundation from which
to build your understanding of the mechanisms of skin diseases. In
conjunction with your ICM-II course, you spend a number of hours: 1) learning
and using the descriptive language of dermatology, 2) learning how to
systematically examine the skin, and 3) learning to describe and recognize
skin cancers, especially melanoma. Last, the Saturday morning patient session
gives you an unforgettable experience to appreciate the human suffering that
comes with many skin diseases and to appreciate the scope of diseases that
are seen by dermatologists. As you will see, dermatology is much more than
skin deep.
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Course
Grading
Your grade in this course is dependent on
your performance on the exam given on the last Monday of the course. The
questions for this exam are taken directly from the course syllabus, material
presented in the lectures, and the two Web sites The Language of
Dermatology and Malignant Melanoma.
You are guaranteed a passing grade if you
score at least 70% on the exam. Because the exam is different each year, we
have the discretion to make the passing percentage less than 70%.
Virtually everyone will pass this course
if they pay attention to the lectures, read the syllabus material, and are
attentive in the small groups and to the Web sites. Though your presence at
lectures is ultimately up to you, those who attend have a distinct advantage in
scoring well on this exam. Your attendance in the small groups and patient
demonstration is likewise strongly encouraged, as
these sessions are designed specifically to help you become better doctors.
Your attendance at the final exam, of course, barring emergency, is required.
Earning honors in The Skin requires a
score of 90% or greater on the final exam and completion of an original,
scholarly analysis on a topic of your choice relevant to skin biology. Roy
Colven (hubio567@u.washington.edu)
needs to approve your topic before you begin work on the paper. Further
details on honors papers are provided in the syllabus.
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Resources
This year we have revised the syllabus for The Skin. The chapters are
written primarily by the lecturers and will reinforce and supplement each
lecturer's presented material. Given the visual nature of skin diseases,
however, the syllabus cannot replace the lecture, where images will help you
place the biological principles in clinical context.
Here is a suggestion on how to make this
written material best work to your advantage: Prior to lecture, read the
material thoroughly, making question marks where it seems less than clear to
you. Listen carefully during the lecture to enhance your knowledge of what
you already understand and to see if the question-marked material is
clarified. If not, raise your hand and ask. Undoubtedly, many of your
classmates will have the same question, and the others will be thankful you
asked it. Then that night reread the material to further cement your
understanding. This way preparation for the exam need not involve cramming,
as the material should be solidly in place.
There also are the electronic (Web-based)
resources mentioned above; follow the Resources button on the left. We expect
you to visit the Language of
Dermatology and Malignant
Melanoma Web sites. A third Web site on Developmental
Biology of the Skin is available for your perusal but is not required
material for the course and you will not be tested on this.
No textbook is required for the course,
but one is recommended: Color Atlas and
Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, et
al, 5th ed., 2005, price: approx. $75 (purchase by August 31 – Medical Branch
only – to receive a 10% discount), available in the University Book
Store Medical Branch in the South Campus Center. This book, besides being
reasonably inexpensive, has lots of high quality clinical photographs to
enhance your developing visual recognition skills. You also may find it
useful in the future (3rd and 4th years, residency, and beyond).
Communication
If you have questions or concerns
regarding the organization, mechanics, or logistics of this course, contact
Dr. Colven before or after lectures or small group sessions, or by e-mail.
Telephone communication is less reliable. In addition, a Skin course focus
group will begin meeting halfway through the course. You can impact your
experience in this course by communicating with those classmates assigned to
this focus group.
For individual lecture questions, ask the
speaker during the lecture; the discussion usually is helpful for all.
Alternatively, you can contact the speaker via e-mail if your question comes
to you afterwards. See our faculty roster.
Overview | Objectives | Grading | Resources | Communications
Last updated: August 2008