MS-1: Behavioral Medicine

January 4, 2023-May 10, 2023
16 sessions

Course Director
Marta Peciña, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
pecinam@upmc.edu

Course Director
Gina Perez, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
perezgm2@upmc.edu

Course Description

Course Goals:

  1. To understand how behavior can affect one’s own health and can affect one’s ability to be an effective, caring physician.
  2. To understand the pervasive role of human behavior in the etiology of disease.
  3. To gain an appreciation of the importance of motivational skills and approaches in the counseling and treatment of patients.
  4. To understand how challenging it is to alter entrenched behaviors, even if there is a clear connection to improved health (for both patients and physicians)

Educational Methods

  • Lectures
  • Small group sessions
  • Standardized patient practice
  • Presentations
  • Quizzes
  • Learning Assignments

Evaluation

Evaluation for this course is based on attendance and participation in small-group sessions; completion, submission, and presentation of 2 independent projects; and three quizzes.

Grading: This course comprises 100% of the grade for the Patient, Physician, and Society Block, Section 2. Grading for the block is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.