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Course Topics - Medicine

On Content

What are some of the changes happening in your discipline that you find particularly interesting?

My own discipline is computer science and technology which overlaps with Mark Merickel’s area in UNIV 222. Thus, I decided to go in the direction of science and health– an important area in the School of Science and Technology (SST). SST has nine departments that can be broadly grouped into three areas: technology (computer science, engineering science), health-related (nursing, kinesiology), science & math (biology, chemistry, geology, physics & astronomy, mathematics & statistics). My part of the course will be looking at changes in medicine and health. 

What will you focus on with the students?

Because my expertise is not in this area, I’m bringing in several guest speakers to share their expertise and perspectives with the students. The speakers will focus on changes in healthcare and medicine, the cultural influences on health status, challenges within the context of global health, and the possibilities in the future for treating illness. The individual speakers and topics include:

• Kirk Pappas, MD, Physician-in-Chief, Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa will speak on “Changes in Medicine in the 20th Century and into the Future.”
• Michelle Kelly, DNP, Nursing Dept at Sonoma State will talk about “Trends in Community and Global Health.
• John McDougall, MD, and Katelin Peterson from Sonoma State will talk about health and wellness and share with the students all of the resources available on campus.
• Lastly, Mark Wood from BioMarin will address “Medicine into the Future.”

What do you want them to learn about your field?

My desired outcome is for the students to broaden their awareness of the cultural and philosophical questions connected to health and medicine. I also want them to have a greater understanding and appreciation of the challenges to medicine in its past and in its future, and to better appreciate the importance of their personal role in their own health and wellness.

On Pedagogy and Collaboration

University 222 presents many opportunities for the campus, faculty, and students, from the GMC venue to the class size, from your collaboration as deans to the subject matter itself.

Given all of the above, what pedagogies will you employ to engage students and achieve your learning objectives?

All of the guest speakers will use PowerPoint and are charged to actively engage students.  In addition to articles selected by the speakers, videos, and student polls on Moodle, they will also read the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," by Anne Fadiman.  They will also complete a self-inventory of their own and health and develop a plan to maintain or adopt healthy behaviors.

What’s it like teaching to 750 students?

Weill Hall is surprisingly intimate. There is the opportunity to interact with this large group and to get them engaged in the course.

In a broad sense, what opportunities are you excited about out of this class?

The opportunity to engage with students as they are embarking on their transition into their advanced, major courses is a great one. It's also the opportunity to expose undeclared students to many possible majors and careers. I'm also excited about being in Weill Hall and embracing the magnificence of the space and its role in our educational mission.