LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Beginning Monday, March 4, the West
Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is offering members of the
community a dynamic introduction to human health with a Mini-Med
School led by second-year medical students.
Participants won't earn a medical
degree or the ability to practice medicine, but they will gain
valuable insights into how the body functions. During the four-week
course, community members will learn about the causes of common
symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and
fatigue. Systems examined will include the cardiovascular system,
respiratory system and gastrointestinal system.
Andrea Nazar, D.O., is a professor of
Clinical Sciences and the faculty advisor for the Mini-Med School
program.
"This is WVSOM's fourth year to
offer a mini-medical school experience," Nazar said. "It's
exciting to see the program evolve and to see deeper connections
developing between our students and the community."
One of the event organizers, Matthew
White, Class of 2015, expressed enthusiasm about a new program format
being introduced this year.
"Each evening will begin with a
common symptom presented exactly as a patient would typically present
it in their physician's office," he said. "After starting with
this common symptom, instructors will take participants through a
deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of bodily systems and
how to recognize indicators of disease or other health conditions."
The school encourages family and
friends to come learn together through this four-week program. This
is a hands-on experience, which includes exposure to plastinated body
organs and robotic patient simulators. Participants will be
exposed to photography and diagrams of internal body systems and
invited to use common medical devices like stethoscopes, endotracheal
tubes and laryngoscopes.
The program is geared toward curious
individuals who want to understand more about how the body works and
how to enjoy healthy living at every age. Participants must be
18 or older to attend.
The Monday classes will take place
March 4, 11, 25 and April 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clinical
Evaluation Center on the WVSOM campus. A $20 registration fee
includes all four lectures, course materials and dinner each evening.
To enroll in the program, call 304-793-6818 by Feb. 20.
