Mini-Medical School 2008 - Course Descriptions

September 9
His and Her Heart Disease

PRESENTERS
Barry London, MD, PhD
Flordeliza S. Villanueva, MD

According to the American Heart Association, heart
disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the
United States, claiming an average of one person
every 34 seconds. It’s not just a man’s disease;
coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack,
is the leading cause of mortality in American women
too. How are we the same, and how are we different
with respect to this equal opportunity condition?
In this session, we’ll discuss the elements of a hearthealthy
lifestyle common to both men and women
but also consider the unique concerns of each gender
individually. You’ll also hear about some of the latest
research being done to enhance screening, detection,
prevention, and treatment of this often-silent killer.

September 23
Breast and Prostate Cancer:
Pink and Blue Ribbons, Gold Medal Research

PRESENTERS
Adam F. Brufsky, MD, PhD
Joel B. Nelson, MD

Thanks to earlier detection methods and better
treatment options, mortality rates for both breast
and prostate cancer have declined steadily since the
early 1990s. Still, many challenges remain in the
battle against these two deadly diseases. What age
should we start regular mammograms or PSA testing?
Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast
cancer? For prostate cancer, should men opt for
surgery or watchful waiting? Come and listen to top
specialists in breast and prostate cancer tackle these
difficult questions and more, discussing hot topics
in prevention, screening, treatment, and research.
They’ll arm you with the latest information about
breast and prostate cancer to help you make
more informed decisions about your own care.

October 7
Will We Be Ready for a Flu Pandemic?

PRESENTERS
Donald S. Burke, MD
Elodie Ghedin, PhD

During the last major global outbreak of influenza
in 1918, approximately 675,000 Americans died —
more than the number of GIs lost in World War I.
Since then, despite major advances in modern health
care facilities, sophisticated lifesaving equipment, and
powerful antiviral drugs, the threat of another deadly
influenza pandemic sweeping our world remains all
too imminent and real. The recent discovery in Asia,
Europe, and Africa of a highly virulent and contagious
avian flu virus capable of being transmitted from birds
to people has raised the specter of another human
pandemic. How are researchers developing the tools
to track new cases and the vaccines to counter this
threat? What strategies are public health officials
planning to prepare for this potentially devastating
medical catastrophe? And what steps can you take to
protect yourself, your family, and your community
in the event of a flu outbreak? These are some of the
important questions we’ll consider in this session.

October 21
Can You Hear (and See) Me Now?

PRESENTERS
Joel S. Schuman, MD
Yael Raz, MD

Most of us take our ability to see and hear for
granted — at least, that is, until we are threatened
by the loss of these senses. Genetics, environmental
factors, infections, systemic diseases, trauma,
and age — everything from overmanaged portable
media devices to undermanaged diabetes — can
impair good hearing and vision. This session will
cover common visual and hearing disorders over
the life spectrum and the innovative work that
medical researchers are doing to keep you seeing
and hearing your best.

November 11
Every Breath You Take —
Made Easier with Medical Research

PRESENTERS
Steven D. Shapiro, MD
A. McGarry Houghton, MD

Our lungs take an average of nearly 20,000 breaths
each day. For the more than 12 million Americans
who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), each of these breaths can become a literal
struggle for air. Medical research into COPD works at
every level, from identifying environmental and genetic
risk factors to developing effective smoking cessation
programs that can prevent this debilitating condition.
In this session, you’ll learn about the amazing and
complex job that your lungs perform, what researchers
and clinicians are doing to combat pulmonary diseases
like COPD, and lifestyle changes you can make to keep
your lungs in good breathing condition for a lifetime.

November 18
Depression, Anxiety, and Medical Research:
Shedd ing Light on Our Darkest Days

PRESENTERS
Ellen Frank, PhD
Jordan F. Karp, MD

From time to time, we all get the blues or jitters.
But when those feelings persist and start to interfere
with our lives, we can quickly feel overwhelmed,
alone, and hopeless. In reality, depression and anxiety
are among the most common health conditions in
this country, affecting nearly one in five U.S. families
regardless of race, gender, or age. Furthermore,
treatment for these mood disorders is highly effective,
even in severe cases. The University of Pittsburgh
consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top institutions
for psychiatric research. Come hear our mental health
experts debunk the myths, deliver straight talk, and
share the latest news and research into some of the
most promising treatments and therapies available to
overcome depression and anxiety.

December 2
Clinical Research: Your Chance
to Play a Role in Medical Progress

PRESENTERS
Steven E. Reis, MD
Christopher M. Ryan, PhD

The development of lifesaving medical interventions
like cholesterol-lowering drugs, influenza vaccines,
and laparoscopic surgery have all depended on one
thing — people like you. Every medical treatment,
drug, or procedure in use today at one point needed
the involvement of volunteers in human clinical trials.
In our final session, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes
look at the complex process of medical research and
its development from laboratory bench to patient
bedside to community practice. Hear how researchers
approach various challenges in disease research, see
the pathways through which new drugs are selected
and developed for safety and efficacy, and learn
how you can participate in advancing the frontiers
of medicine.


	_September 9 \| September 23 \| October 7 \| October 21 \| November 11 \| November 18 \| December 2
	September 9 His and Her Heart Disease PRESENTERS Barry London, MD, PhD Flordeliza S. Villanueva, MD According to the American Heart Association, heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, claiming an average of one person every 34 seconds. It’s not just a man’s disease; coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attack, is the leading cause of mortality in American women too. How are we the same, and how are we different with respect to this equal opportunity condition? In this session, we’ll discuss the elements of a hearthealthy lifestyle common to both men and women but also consider the unique concerns of each gender individually. You’ll also hear about some of the latest research being done to enhance screening, detection, prevention, and treatment of this often-silent killer. September 23 Breast and Prostate Cancer: Pink and Blue Ribbons, Gold Medal Research PRESENTERS Adam F. Brufsky, MD, PhD Joel B. Nelson, MD Thanks to earlier detection methods and better treatment options, mortality rates for both breast and prostate cancer have declined steadily since the early 1990s. Still, many challenges remain in the battle against these two deadly diseases. What age should we start regular mammograms or PSA testing? Does hormone replacement therapy cause breast cancer? For prostate cancer, should men opt for surgery or watchful waiting? Come and listen to top specialists in breast and prostate cancer tackle these difficult questions and more, discussing hot topics in prevention, screening, treatment, and research. They’ll arm you with the latest information about breast and prostate cancer to help you make more informed decisions about your own care. October 7 Will We Be Ready for a Flu Pandemic? PRESENTERS Donald S. Burke, MD Elodie Ghedin, PhD During the last major global outbreak of influenza in 1918, approximately 675,000 Americans died — more than the number of GIs lost in World War I. Since then, despite major advances in modern health care facilities, sophisticated lifesaving equipment, and powerful antiviral drugs, the threat of another deadly influenza pandemic sweeping our world remains all too imminent and real. The recent discovery in Asia, Europe, and Africa of a highly virulent and contagious avian flu virus capable of being transmitted from birds to people has raised the specter of another human pandemic. How are researchers developing the tools to track new cases and the vaccines to counter this threat? What strategies are public health officials planning to prepare for this potentially devastating medical catastrophe? And what steps can you take to protect yourself, your family, and your community in the event of a flu outbreak? These are some of the important questions we’ll consider in this session. October 21 Can You Hear (and See) Me Now? PRESENTERS Joel S. Schuman, MD Yael Raz, MD Most of us take our ability to see and hear for granted — at least, that is, until we are threatened by the loss of these senses. Genetics, environmental factors, infections, systemic diseases, trauma, and age — everything from overmanaged portable media devices to undermanaged diabetes — can impair good hearing and vision. This session will cover common visual and hearing disorders over the life spectrum and the innovative work that medical researchers are doing to keep you seeing and hearing your best. November 11 Every Breath You Take — Made Easier with Medical Research PRESENTERS Steven D. Shapiro, MD A. McGarry Houghton, MD Our lungs take an average of nearly 20,000 breaths each day. For the more than 12 million Americans who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), each of these breaths can become a literal struggle for air. Medical research into COPD works at every level, from identifying environmental and genetic risk factors to developing effective smoking cessation programs that can prevent this debilitating condition. In this session, you’ll learn about the amazing and complex job that your lungs perform, what researchers and clinicians are doing to combat pulmonary diseases like COPD, and lifestyle changes you can make to keep your lungs in good breathing condition for a lifetime. November 18 Depression, Anxiety, and Medical Research: Shedd ing Light on Our Darkest Days PRESENTERS Ellen Frank, PhD Jordan F. Karp, MD From time to time, we all get the blues or jitters. But when those feelings persist and start to interfere with our lives, we can quickly feel overwhelmed, alone, and hopeless. In reality, depression and anxiety are among the most common health conditions in this country, affecting nearly one in five U.S. families regardless of race, gender, or age. Furthermore, treatment for these mood disorders is highly effective, even in severe cases. The University of Pittsburgh consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top institutions for psychiatric research. Come hear our mental health experts debunk the myths, deliver straight talk, and share the latest news and research into some of the most promising treatments and therapies available to overcome depression and anxiety. December 2 Clinical Research: Your Chance to Play a Role in Medical Progress PRESENTERS Steven E. Reis, MD Christopher M. Ryan, PhD The development of lifesaving medical interventions like cholesterol-lowering drugs, influenza vaccines, and laparoscopic surgery have all depended on one thing — people like you. Every medical treatment, drug, or procedure in use today at one point needed the involvement of volunteers in human clinical trials. In our final session, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the complex process of medical research and its development from laboratory bench to patient bedside to community practice. Hear how researchers approach various challenges in disease research, see the pathways through which new drugs are selected and developed for safety and efficacy, and learn how you can participate in advancing the frontiers of medicine.