MPAS 608 Gastroenterology & Nutrition
This course covers the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system and the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, complications, and differential diagnoses of commonly encountered diseases and disorders of the esophagus, stomach, biliary tree, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus through symptoms-based and systems-based approaches. Emphasis is placed on interviewing and eliciting a medical history, performing a focused physical examination, and ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies to evaluate these diseases and disorders. Management of patients with these diseases and disorders across the life span from initial presentation through follow-up for acute, chronic, and emergent cases will be covered, as will referral when necessary, preventive medicine, and patient education. Associated medical documentation and clinical skills, as appropriate, will be taught. Topics include items such as approach to a patient with a gastrointestinal complaint and diseases, disorders, and neoplasia common to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, nutritional assessment, nutritional requirements, nutritional counseling, nutritional disorders, enteral and parenteral nutritional, vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, electrolyte imbalance and management, and fluid regulation are discussed. Students will learn through an integrated curriculum to include computer-based, lecture-based, and collaborative instructional modalities that will include classroom, laboratory, simulation, group, community, and clinical experiences.