MiniMedical School set Sept. 24

Emory MiniMedical School is back for the third year, with classes beginning Sept. 24 and running for eight consecutive Tuesday evenings. Close to 1,000 Atlantans from all walks of life, including many Emory employees, have "graduated" from what Evening at Emory Director Steve Stoffle calls "hands down the most popular course we've ever offered."

Once again, more than a dozen of the medical school's best known faculty will discuss the functions and diseases of various organs and systems, offering case presentations and ending with a question and answer period. Course Director Randy Martin, associate director of The Emory Clinic and head of the Health Communication Project at Emory, says students don't need a science or medical background, only a desire to learn more about the wonders of the human body, how it works, what can go wrong with it, and how physicians are trained to prevent and treat illnesses.

Employees receive a 20 percent discount, making their cost $60. This fee also covers a shuttle from Michael Street parking deck, light refreshments, a notebook and handouts, diploma and T-shirt. Graduates also receive alumni privileges. Last year's graduates received free enrollment in a four-week course on medicine and technology. Employees can register by calling 727-6000.

Students will learn about genetics, the brain and nervous system, the mind, the cardiovascular system, endocrine system, gastrointestinal system, genitourinary system, cancer, eyes, skin, bones, and other mainstays of medical education. The last night, Nov. 12, concludes with a lecture on infectious diseases and awarding of diplomas and Emory Mini-Medical School T-shirts.

Stoffle believes the course's appeal is "because ultimately it is about the person who takes it; the medical issues apply directly. It also touches on the dream of many people--the what if--about actually going to medical school. The high level at which the course is taught and the easy interaction between the faculty and students honor that dream. It's a tribute both to the quality of the medical faculty and the sophistication of the Evening at Emory audience."

The course is sponsored by the School of Medicine and The Emory Clinic. "The course is part of Emory's growing move toward becoming a health information resource for the general community as well as health professionals," said Martin. "We're pleased that some of our leading faculty, many with international reputations, are willing to take their own time to share their expertise through this community program."

--Sylvia Wrobel


Return to the September 9, 1996 contents page