Pharmacology (FY225)

A profound knowledge of the Pharmacological basis of Therapeutics will be essential throughout a productive clinical career in all medical disciplines. This will allow the physician to keep abreast of new developments in drug therapy. The Pharmacology courses start with an introduction to principles and basics, including pharmacokinetics (in which ways does the human body handle drugs) and pharmacodynamics (in which ways do drugs affect the human body). Comprehensive Therapeutic Issues Lectures focus on treatment strategies (e.g. so-called Consensus Recommendations) for some major diseases. Joint Lectures, a conference-style teaching format coordinated by clinicians that will cross reference topics covered in previous Semesters with the current course materials, are being implemented.

Our aim is to emphasize the interdisciplinary position of Pharmacology in Medicine and to utilize students’ enormous motivation to learn what is clinically relevant. Throughout the course students will be alerted to the clinical relevance of drug classes discussed. Of special interest are precautions in drug treatment especially in childhood, old age, during pregnancy and lactation. Ultimately, students will be introduced to the delicate process of therapeutic decision making.

For advanced discussion of selected topics, the class will be divided into small groups, each assigned to a tutor. Pharmacology Small Group sessions use a series of short, simplified therapeutic scenarios to elaborate on the Clinical Pharmacology of drugs addressed in preceding lectures. Case of the Week provides insight to principles of Evidence Based Medicine by means of a detailed case scenario and reading of some assigned peer reviewed clinical publications. This is a joint program with Pathophysiology. Under the auspices of Pathophysiology faculty, each series of group sessions is concluded by a plenary Case of the Week discussion. Within the demanding schedule for students in their fifth and sixth Semester there is little room to discuss the massive public use of non-prescription drugs, folk remedies, and quackery. However, the students will not a draw blank when it comes to substance abuse, mood enhancing drugs, diet pills, or anti-baldness drugs, the concluding Pharmacology lecture addresses “Lifestyle Drugs”.