J-W Wire Services
Kansas City, Kan. -- The Kansas University School of Medicine is embracing a medical program that has enjoyed widespread community support in Boulder, Colo.
The school will present its first Mini Medical School beginning Tuesday.
Each Tuesday evening for eight weeks, participants will hear presentations by KU School of Medicine faculty members, distinguished researchers, teachers and clinicians. The speakers will address topics and specialties typically studied by KU medical students. They will discuss the brain and nervous system, male and female reproductive systems, genetics, lungs, kidneys, treatment of diseases and important preventive measures.
Hard core science will be presented in an understandable format.
When finished, participants will know the basic concepts and terms needed to understand news stories on medical research, know how to assure good health, and better understand how the process of biomedical research becomes the process of medical practice, according to KU.
The first mini medical school was established in 1989 at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Boulder as a way to share the knowledge and expertise of the medical school faculty with community members. Every year has been a sellout, and today more than 45 medical schools as well as the National Institutes of Health offer these community education programs.
"We see this program as a real partnership with the community," says Dr. Deborah Powell, executive dean and vice chancellor for clinical affairs. "People are becoming more and more knowledgeable and sophisticated about their health. We want these programs to give them a perspective on medicine they don't always have."
The Mini Medical School will be held in the Wahl East Auditorium at KU Medical Center. Classes will begin at 7 p.m. and last approximately two hours. Refreshments will be served. Tuition is $75. A limited number of scholarships are available. To register, call (913) 588-1227 or register on line at http://www.kumc.edu/som/minimed/.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.