UCSF Mini Medical School for the Public

What does it take to be a medical hero? Some medical heroes make unique scientific discoveries. Some develop innovative strategies to treat our most vexing clinical problems. Some change health policy forever. Some become role models for generations of students and colleagues. Some make lifelong commitments to caring for the underserved. All have a passion for excellence.

This course will present UCSF faculty who represent the very best in American medicine. In each of six evenings, faculty will describe their unique path to discovery and commitment. How did they develop an interest in their specialty? Who were their key mentors? What was the state of the field before they made their contribution? How has their work made important contributions to human health? What can you learn about each of their areas of expertise and how they affect your life?

Course Chairs: Robert B. Baron, MD, MS, professor of medicine and associate dean, UCSF School of Medicine; director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSF.

February 22
Lung Surfactant: The Discovery of a Life-Saving Therapy
Samuel Hawgood, MBBS, professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics; physician in chief, UCSF Children’s Hospital

March 1
The UCSF Fetal Treatment Center: A Personal Perspective
Michael R. Harrison, MD, professor of pediatric surgery and co-founder, Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF Children’s Hospital

March 8
Brain Tumors – Current State of Scientific Knowledge
Susan Chang , MD, professor and vice chair, Department of Neurological Surgery

March 15
Happy Birthday, Transplantation: The UCSF Organ Transplant Experience
Nancy Ascher, MD, PhD, professor and chair, Department of Surgery, UCSF School of Medicine

March 22
Calisthenics for the Older Brain
Michael Merzenich, PhD, Francis Sooy Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience

March 29
Rhythms of the Heart
Melvin Scheinman, MD, professor of medicine, Walter H. Shorenstein Endowed Chair in Cardiology; founder, UCSF Electrophysiology Section

Four years ago, scientists described a “rough draft” of the human genome. Since that time, most of the remaining part of the genome sequence has been completed. Recently, a large-scale project to characterize individual variation in the human genome has completed its first phase. These developments have propelled research into various aspects of human genetics, some of which will be described in this course. Population genetics focuses on the global distribution of genetic variation. Latest insights into gene geography and its relationship to concepts such as race and ethnicity will be discussed.

Genetic variants have been described that predispose individuals to a variety of common diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Human genetic variation in the immune system also underlies differential response to pathogens and infectious diseases generally. Genetic variation contributes to individual differences in response to drug treatments and to side effects from those treatments, a discipline referred to as pharmacogenetics. Progress in all these areas also will be described by some of the world’s experts in human genetics who are faculty members at UCSF.

Course Chairs: Neil J. Risch, PhD, Lamond Family Foundation Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics; director, UCSF Center for Human Genetics.

February 21
Genetic Structure in the Human Population
Neil J. Risch, PhD, Lamond Family Foundation Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics; director, UCSF Center for Human Genetics

February 28
Genetics of Race and Ethnicity: Lessons from Studies of Asthma
Esteban Burchard, MD, assistant professor of biopharmaceutical sciences and medicine

March 7
Human Genetics and the Brain
Louis Ptacek, MD, Howard Hughes Investigator, John C. Coleman Distinguished Professorship in Neurodegenerative Diseases

March 14
Genetics of Cancer
John Witte, PhD, professor, of epidemiology and biostatistics and urology

March 21
Genetics of Heart Disease
Deepak Srivastava, MD, director, Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Wilma and Adeline Pirag Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Developmental Cardiology

March 28
How Drugs May Be Tailored to Your Genetic Makeup
Kathy Giacomini, PhD, professor of biopharmaceutical sciences, cellular and molecular pharmacology, and pharmaceutical chemistry; chair, Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, UCSF School of Pharmacy

This course will explore health care issues commonly experienced by older adults. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about their concerns related to these topics.

Course Chair: Joan B. Wood, PhD, adjunct professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine (Geriatrics); director, Northern California Geriatric Education Center; associate director, UCSF Mount Zion Center on Aging; campus planner, UCSF Academic Geriatric Resource Center.

March 11
Hypertension Management in the Older Patient
Betty J. Dong, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy, UCSF School of Pharmacy

Cancer Screening in the Older Patient: A Framework for Decision-Making
Louise Walter, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Geriatrics, VA Medical Center and UCSF School of Medicine

March 18
Spirituality and Health in Late Life

Michael W. Rabow, MD, associate professor of medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine

Practical Considerations in Preventing Falls
Sharon Gorman, PT, MS, GCS, assistant professor of physical therapy, Samuel Merritt College

March 25
Self-Management of Health in Late Life
Helen Chen, MD, associate clinical professor of medicine, Division of Geriatrics, UCSF School of Medicine

Living with Congestive Heart Failure
Michael Harper, MD, associate professor of medicine, Division of Geriatrics, UCSF School of Medicine

Leading health care experts offer new information and insights about some of the most important health policy issues facing our society. Attendees will learn about the impact of the possible privatization of Social Security and Medicare, hospital quality report cards, threats to the delivery of emergency care, the challenges and successes of interventions to prevent illness caused by tobacco products, efforts to improve health care of children, and emerging ideas about the relationship between work and health.

Course Chair: Jonathan Showstack, PhD, MPH, professor of medicine and health policy; associate director, UCSF Institute for Health Policy Studies.

February 8
Latest News from the Tobacco Wars
Steven Schroeder, MD, distinguished professor of health and health care

February 15
The Future of Social Security and Medicare: The Impact of Privatization
Carroll Estes, PhD, professor of sociology, department of social & behavioral sciences, School of Nursing ; founder, Institute of Health & Aging

February 22
Shopping for Care: Can We Develop Hospital Quality Report Cards?
Arlyss Anderson Rothman, PhD, RN, assistant professor of nursing, and Adams Dudley, MD, MBA, associate professor of medicine and health policy

March 1
Doctor on Duty: The Crisis in Emergency Care
Ellen Weber, MD, professor of clinical medicine; clinical director, UCSF Emergency Department

March 8
Improving the Health and Health Care of Children
Paul Newacheck, DrPH, professor of health policy and pediatrics, and Dana Hughes, DrPH, associate professor of family and community medicine and health policy

March 15
How Work Affects Your Health
Edward Yelin, PhD, professor of medicine and health policy