SCHOOL OF 2012-2013 - St. George's University

School of Medicine
Course Descriptions
speaking patients in their future. In the United States,
particularly, it has become an absolute necessity for health
care providers to have at least a minimal understanding
of the Spanish language in order to reduce frustrations
stemming from the lack of ability to communicate with
the nation’s fastest-growing non-English speaking group.
In addition to the significant lack of control that health
care providers feel at not being in command of the
language of their patients, the predicament of non-English
speaking patients in need of medical care is of crucial
concern as well. The course, which will be offered at the
University’s main campus, will provide students with a basic
introduction to Spanish grammar and sentence structure,
as well as an overview of vocabulary for specific medical
purposes. Students will be expected to have had some
exposure to Spanish language instruction, as well as be in
good academic standing in order for the more specialized
medical instruction to be beneficial. The course will cover
such topics as basic grammar skills, emergency medicine, a
visit to the family practitioner, basic anatomy, and dealing
with sensitive cultural issues.
SCSK 514
American Sign Language (ASL)
Robert Hage, MD, PhD, DLO, MBA
This one-credit selective is offered once a semester and will
fall within the start/stop dates of the first term. Ten sessions
are scheduled per semester. Students are expected to
attend and actively participate twice a week in a one-hour
session during which a teacher from the School for the
Deaf will teach American Sign Language (ASL). Guest
speakers will cover topics such as speech training, causes
of deafness, prevention of deafness, and hearing aids. This
will add to each session an element of theory and practical
information related to deafness. Students are expected
to practice their acquired sign language skills with each
other between sessions and demonstrate some of their
skills during each session. Video cassettes are available for
viewing in the library. Visits to the School for the Deaf are
recommended.
SCSK 515
Clinical, Ethical, and Neuroscience Aspects of Pain
Katherine Yearwood, MBBS
Pain is an important symptom in medicine but
undertreated pain and its management are relatively
neglected in medical curricula. This one-credit selective
will define pain and introduce it as a public health problem.
It will explore the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
of pain, and psychological, sociological, and bioethical
aspects of pain. Students will be taught to do pain histories,
assess levels of pain and effectiveness of pain relief, and be
introduced to treatment options. The course includes visits
to Grenada General Hospital and/or geriatric homes and/or
rounds with community nurses.
SCSK 516
Research Ethics
Cheryl Macpherson, PhD
This selective fosters professional development,
strengthens ethical sensitivity and reasoning ability,
and enhances knowledge and understanding of the
complexities of existing research ethics guidelines. This
course focuses on the role of human participants and
the intersection of research with medical and veterinary
medical clinical practice and public health. Students
participate in seminars and case discussions involving
international guidelines, therapeutic misconception, use of
stored tissues, and cultural and socioeconomic factors that
bear on international research collaborations. The ethics
of authorship and plagiarism are explored. The course
expands upon the SOM and SVM required curriculum on
research ethics, enabling students to gain deeper insight.
SCSK 517
International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)
Theresa McCann, PhD, MPH
This selective is offered at two levels: Advanced Level for
students who are health care professionals; Basic Level
for all other students. During this course, students will
enhance their knowledge and skills necessary to efficiently
and effectively manage patients who are affected by
trauma. Students will learn current International Trauma
Life Support (ITLS) algorithmic approaches to managing
patients from both a cognitive and skills-based approach
using didactic presentations, interactive skills stations,
and case scenarios. The ITLS selective covers the skills
necessary for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilization,
and treatment or transportation of trauma patients.
Emphasized are the evaluation steps, sequencing and
techniques for resuscitation, and packaging a patient.
Realistic simulations reinforce the key concepts, such as
proficiency in basic life support care, basic and advanced
airway, chest decompression and fluid resuscitation, spinal
restriction and rapid extrication, short back board, helmet
management, log roll and long back board, traction splints,
68 | St. George’s University