Mini-Medical School brings med school to public
by Kim Miller
The spring session of MCG Mini-Medical School, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 20, will offer hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction with mannequins students can take home for practice and review. Other topics scheduled are infertility, organ donation, stroke rehabilitation and sleep disorders.
The lecture series, presented by MCG faculty members, is intended to better educate the public about medicine and health care in general. Participants range from teens to senior citizens.
The first mini-medical school was developed by the National Institutes of Health. More than 80 similar programs now exist throughout the country. Dr. Alan Roberts, associate professor of medicine, started MCG’s program in 2003.
Classes are held from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays in the MCG School of Dentistry auditorium, room 1020. Each session covers two topics. Tuition is $35 for MCG employees, $10 for high school students with identification, $50 for individuals and $75 for families. Snacks, learning materials, and a graduation certificate will be provided. The semester counts for 12 hours of continuing education credit.
Class schedule
Feb. 20 – Reproductive endocrinology: physiology and treatment of infertility and assisted-reproduction techniques: Dr. Lawrence C. Layman, chief of the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, and Dr. Adelina M. Emmi, professor of reproductive endocrinology, infertility and genetics and medical director of Reproductive Laboratories of Augusta
Feb. 27 – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction: Pamela Rosema, respiratory therapist and instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
March 6 – Allied health professions opportunities: Dr. W. Kent Guion, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Allied Health Sciences; Rehabilitation after stroke, including the use of driving simulators: Drs. Abiodun Emmanuel Akinwuntan, assistant professor of physical therapy, and Douglas R. Keskula, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy
March 13 – Organ donation: Sherrell Gay, heart transplant recipient, and Janet Barnett, clinical transplant coordinator
March 20 – Viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer: Dr. Robert Schade, chief of the Section of Gastroenterolgy and Hepatology; Domestic violence and domestic abuse: Dr. Alison Lauber, associate professor of family medicine
March 27 – Parkinsonism (movement abnormalities most commonly caused by Parkinson’s disease): Caroline diDonato, nurse practitioner and assistant clinical professor of the Section of Movement Disorders; Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders: Dr. Amy Blanchard, pulmonologist and director of the Georgia Sleep Center