Course objectives

• Describe the normal gross structure, histology, and physiology of the heart, lungs, and kidney.
• Describe the normal gross structure, histology, and physiology of the vascular bed in the heart, lungs, and kidney.
• Compare and contrast the gross structure, histology, and physiology of the systemic and pulmonary circulations.
• Describe the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that enable the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems to maintain the body’s homeostasis, especially blood pressure and electrolyte balance.
• Describe the causes (genetic, developmental, microbiologic, autoimmune, metabolic, toxic, and traumatic) of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal dysfunction.
• Describe the gross structure, histology, and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems seen in common diseases and conditions.
• Describe the epidemiology of common cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal maladies within a defined population, and the systematic approaches useful in reducing the incidence and prevalence of those maladies.
• Demonstrate clinical reasoning skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to retrieve, evaluate, manage, and utilize biomedical information.
• Describe the importance of life-long learning to the practice of medicine.
• Describe the use of the scientific method to determine the causation of disease and to compare and contrast the efficacy of traditional and non-traditional therapies.
• Apply the principles of pharmacology, therapeutics, and therapeutic decision making to cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal dysfunction.
• Describe how the principles of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics can be used to help understand cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal function and disease.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the use and limits of laboratory diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal disease.