Principles of Infectious Disease and Immunology

Catalog description

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Infectious Disease and Immunology course will provide students a comprehensive understanding of immunology and infectious disease epidemiology and an overview of major infectious diseases. This course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation. The immunology portion of the course includes education on the various immune system cell types and their important functions in innate and adaptive immunity. Congenital and acquired immunodeficiency syndromes will be taught in contrast to normal immune system function