Science of Medicine Themes

Convergence is enhanced by a focus on the science of medicine, thereby linking our UT Southwestern strengths in patient care and research with our educational mission. Over the course of a year, each learning community participates in activities focused on a specific science of medicine theme.

2011-12: Convergence Day–Focus on Aging

Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Small Groups Discuss a Case Study on Aging
University Lecturer and Keynote Speaker: Nir Barzilai, MD

Aging will be highlighted in a case study involving an elderly couple and their relatives as they encounter age-related changes in body systems that lead to common health and lifestyle issues associated with advanced age. Each school will focus on selected individuals in the family to illustrate health and disease features relevant to school-specific learning objectives.

On Convergence Day, March 21, 2012, small, mixed groups of students from each of the schools will meet to communicate how their professions approach the understanding and care of aging populations and individuals. Substantial support for this year’s aging-related activities is generously provided by the Southwestern Aging and Geriatrics Education
(SAGE) program under an award from the Donald W. Reynolds’ Foundation.

2010-11: Convergence Day on Obesity & Metabolism

The related topics of obesity, metabolism, and nutrition were highlighted in a case study involving an extended family whose members exhibit complications of obesity. Each school focused on selected individuals in the family to illustrate health and disease features relevant to specific learning objectives.

For example, the School of Health Professions focused on the father who had foot lesions due to complications of diabetes. His case was reviewed from the perspective of care providers represented in the school, such as physician assistants, prosthetists, and physical therapists. Medical and graduate schools similarly presented the case from the physicians’ and scientists’ perspectives.

Substantial support for this year’s obesity and metabolism-related activities is generously provided by the Taskforce for Obesity Research at Southwestern (TORS).

2009-10: Convergence Day on Cancer

Each learning community selected articles and cases on cancer to illustrate basic science or clinical educational objectives.

The Medical School, for example, in discussions of evidence-based medicine, used the New England Journal of Medicine article describing original clinical trials with Imatinib as a treatment of chronic-phase myeloid leukemia. Graduate students in the Mechanisms of Disease track were invited to join in small group discussions for evidence-based medicine.

The School of Health Professions studied a case of Ewing’s sarcoma to illustrate interactions among members of the health care team. The young patient in the case, who underwent amputation, received care or services from members of each of the health professions represented in our educational programs, including physician assistant, physical therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, medical technology, clinical nutrition, radiation therapy and rehabilitation counseling.

First-year graduate students participated in small-group literature discussion of work by Gerard Evan, the keynote speaker for the Cancer Learning Community Day on April 7, 2010. Substantial support for the year’s cancer-related activities was generously provided by the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern.