This course is a regional study of the gross structures of the human body covering the back, upper limb, thorax, abdomen, pelvis & perineum, and head and neck.  Emphasis is on the structure and function of all body systems and the application of this anatomical knowledge to clinical case studies.  This course also includes regular exposure to imaging modalities that form a regular part of diagnosis and treatment.  The didactic component is delivered by way of clinical case-based conferences, during which there is student participation, and introductory lectures on the regions to be dissected.  The lab component involves small-group dissections of human cadavers.  Emphasis is also placed on professionalism and self-directed learning.  Upon completion of this course, students should be well prepared for Lower Extremity Anatomy.

This course is a regional study of the gross structures of the human body covering the back, upper limb, thorax, abdomen, pelvis & perineum, and head and neck.  Emphasis is on the structure and function of all body systems and the application of this anatomical knowledge to clinical case studies.  This course also includes regular exposure to imaging modalities that form a regular part of diagnosis and treatment.  The didactic component is delivered by way of clinical case-based conferences, during which there is student participation, and introductory lectures on the regions to be dissected.  The lab component involves small-group dissections of human cadavers.  Emphasis is also placed on professionalism and self-directed learning.  Upon completion of this course, students should be well prepared for Lower Extremity Anatomy.

Medical Biochemistry is the study of the molecular basis of life.  This involves the analysis of molecular processes which are fundamental for the maintenance of tissues and organs.  It also describes conditions that alter metabolic homeostasis and contribute to specific pathology.  Medical Biochemistry also presents biochemical events that relate to the art of healing and serves as a foundation for the understanding of other basic science and clinical courses.

Physiology is the science that explores the normal vital processes and mechanisms necessary for life.  The breadth & depth of physiology ranges from detailing sub-cellular mechanisms to describing integrated mechanisms at the organ level and finally discussing whole-body mechanisms.  In this course, human physiology will be the focus in delineating how the human body functions as a living unit.  Thus, at the end of the course, students should be able to recognize & understand normal human physiologic mechanisms.  Basic patho-physiologic mechanisms will be introduced, where appropriate, to further the students’ comprehension of normal Physiology.  Such a fundamental understanding is vital.  It enables students to better understand the sciences of pathology & pharmacology.  This, in turn, provides students with the tools to successfully manage pathophysiologic & pharmacologic processes in their patients.

The course involves the study of the structure and function of the central nervous system through an understanding of the principal neural pathways involved in the transmission of information.  These pathways include those mediating motor and sensory functions, as well as those serving higher cortical functions such as cognition. The neuroanatomic basis of the neurological examination of a patient and the implications of damage to these pathways will be emphasized. The course will be presented primarily through lectures. In addition, there will be one lab session and several sessions for the discussion of case studies.

The course reviews skeletal and muscular anatomy and discusses those processes necessary to allow posture and locomotion.   The students will identify skeletal features through palpation and use these as references for segment measurement and evaluation of joint range and quality of motion. Instrumented measurements will supplement clinical measurements.

This course is designed to prepare the first-year podiatric medical student for uncomplicated patient and clinical encounters that involve eliciting a history and performing a routine physical examination. Concurrently, the course will also establish a fundamental understanding of podiatric medicine to the student and serve as a foundation upon which to build their career and clinical experience as a podiatric physician. Relevant concepts significant to the practice of podiatric medicine, such as biomechanics and orthopedics will also be introduced, and in doing so, will raise their understanding as they pertain to the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of podiatric pathologies observed. Introductory clinical practices and exposures will be experienced in order to present and reinforce concepts learned in the classroom through a live, clinical perspective. In addition, demonstrative workshops and other instructional methods will be utilized to enhance retention and presentation of material through a multi-faceted perspective.

Lower Extremity Anatomy includes the study of normal structure plus certain common and clinically important variations. It is taught over sixteen weeks, to allow students the opportunity to learn both details of structure and the relationships among the structures of the lower limb. Part of the material is presented systematically and part of it regionally. The subject is taught through both lecture, conference, and dissection. Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be able to accurately describe all major structures of the lower limb, state their relationships, and explain their basic functions. In addition, students will also be able to describe and explain the functional significance of certain common variations in lower extremity anatomy. The students will be able to demonstrate this knowledge by solving basic functional and clinical problems encountered in course examinations.

The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the basic principles of microbiology and immunology as it relates to the infectious process caused by microorganisms and primary immunologic disorders. It is taught with an emphasis on those microbes and immunological disorders of particular interest to the practicing podiatrist.  At the end of the course students will have a general knowledge on the principles of immunology, including components of the immune system and their interactions in immune responses, diseases related to the immune system, and Immunological methods that can be used to diagnose disease.  Students will be able to identify the basic characteristics, pathogenic properties, mode of transmission, epidemiological presence and methods of diagnosis and prevention of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Students will also learn the importance of maintaining a sanitary environment with an understanding of sources of infection, contagion, and practice of microbial control in office and hospital environments.

Physiology presents a concise description of cell processes and the incorporation of these processes into descriptions of how the nervous system functions.  Cell processes include lectures on cell transport systems, osmosis, bioelectric potential development as well as detailed descriptions of how excitable tissues (muscle and nerve) function.  These lectures provide fundamental knowledge that is then applied to lectures concerning the integrated functions of the nervous system.  In this course, the integrated functions are presented utilizing a basic computer paradigm.  This includes functional descriptions of the input from the sensory system (pressure, vision, etc.) to processing by the central nervous system (spinal cord, cerebellum, motor cortex, etc.) and finally the output to muscle effectors. Included are brief descriptions of certain pathophysiologic mechanisms (ex. athetosis, Parkinson's and others) that are useful in describing where normal Physiology can be modified by lesions.  All of this gives the student a comprehensive understanding of the Physiology of the nervous system.  Such an understanding is, in turn, foundation knowledge upon which case presentations of neurologic pathologies can be comprehended by the students.

The course in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation describes the use of physical therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise and manual therapy in the treatment of the podiatric medical patient.  Patient evaluation, proper progress reporting, treatment plan development and implementation are emphasized. Post-operative rehabilitation of podiatric patients is also discussed.