August 25, 2003

Medical Student Class of 2007
Weill Medical College of Cornell University


Dear Students:

Welcome to New York, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and Molecules to Cells. As introduced to you during orientation this week, the new medical college curriculum utilizes learning experiences designed to maximize active student participation. Learning modalities include problem-based learning (PBL), lectures, small group discussions, laboratories and journal clubs. This year there is a new Journal Club format which aims to integrate clinical medicine, basic science research and therapeutic approaches to a limited number of topics. Your Molecules to Cells course begins on Monday, August 25 at 8:00 AM in the Weill Auditorium. We will start with an 8 AM introduction to the course, followed at 9:15 AM by an introduction to Problem Based Learning (PBL). At 10:15 AM, Dr. Maxfield will deliver the opening lecture on the "Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease", and at 11:30 AM, Dr. Breslow will lecture on "Protein Structure and Building Blocks". The remainder of the course schedule for the next 10 weeks together with your PBL, small group and laboratory room assignments are contained in this handout. A complete syllabus, including lecture transcripts and small group discussion materials for the first week of the course is also included.


Required textbooks:

• Alberts, et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 4th Edition
  
  
• Stryer, Biochemistry, 5th Edition.
  
  
• Department of Cell Biology Faculty, Histology Laboratory Manual, 2002 (The lab manual will be distributed free of charge in September).
  
  

These are available at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on 70th St.


Highly recommended and useful references:

• Ross, et al., Histology. A Text and Atlas, 3rd Edition
  
  
• Harrison, Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th Edition. A limited number of copies are available for reference in the library, and the full text is on-line in the Education Center. You may wish to purchase a personal copy at the bookstore.
  
  

Locker combinations, locker numbers, security cards, microscopes and specimen slide sets for Histology Laboratories will be assigned by Ms. Maria Loreaux in the Weill Education Center later in the course.


Course Format:

• Course materials will be presented in PBLs, lectures, small group discussions, laboratory sessions, and reading assignments.
  
  
• Lectures are held in Weill Auditorium, Room A-250 or A-950. PBL sessions, journal clubs, laboratories and small group discussions are held in the Weill Education Center small group rooms.
  
  
• Journal club articles will be available on the secure course website . Due to copyright regulations, each student can print out individual copies in the library.
  
  
• Weekly reading assignments, lecture handouts and required reference materials will be provided to you 1 week prior to use in the course. Tutors will bring case materials to the PBL sessions. Students should bring a few copies of the Molecular Biology of the Cell and Biochemistry texts to the PBL sessions for reference.
  
  
• It is incumbent on you to look up and read relevant sections from the recommended texts for upcoming lectures, PBL and small group sessions listed in the course schedule. Everyone should read the assigned background materials before coming to class. Laboratory slides need not be perused before labs.
  
  

Assessment: You will be responsible for material presented in PBL, lectures, small group sessions, journal clubs, laboratories and readings. A single grade of Honors, Pass or Fail will be recorded for the entire course, together with narrative comments on individual student performance.

On behalf of all of the Course Directors, faculty and staff of Molecules to Cells, we look forward to our mutual venture in learning the science of medicine.