News
Mini-Medical School Graduation Set for May 2
at UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine
STRATFORD — For the past two months, 40 area residents have studied anatomy, DNA, microbiology and psychiatry. They’ve learned about osteopathic manipulative medicine, developmental disabilities and osteoporosis. And they’ve met with experts to discuss bird flu pandemic, the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and ways to avoid gastrointestinal disease. Now, on Wednesday, May 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m., they will wrap up the last of their weekly classes and receive certificates honoring them as the first graduates of the Mini-Medical School at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine.
The Mini-Medical School on the UMDNJ campus in Stratford began in mid-March. Each week, nationally and internationally known faculty from the medical school led the students on an in-depth discussion of a unique health topic. Class sessions covered the basic science and/or the clinical application of the week’s topic that were followed by interactive demonstrations or case illustrations.
"Even though we didn’t require our Mini- Med students to dissect cadavers or take written examinations, we still tried to provide them with a taste of what it’s like to be a medical student," said Dr. Paul Krueger, associate dean for Academic Affairs at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine and the guest lecturer for the final Mini-Medical School session. "We’re thrilled that we had such an enthusiastic response to our program. Students came from all over New Jersey and from as far away as Western Pennsylvania, and ranged in age from high school students to senior citizens. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to make Mini-Medical School an annual event on our campus."
Plans are currently underway to schedule another Mini-Medical School session for the 2007-2008 school year at UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine.
UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,700 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.
