Overview

What one function of the body interests you the most? Could it be how the brain integrates learning or how we make babies? Whatever your answer is, most likely you’d want to explore it in detail by studying clinical physiology. Such an exploration should be coupled with an unquenchable yet science-based curiosity. Such curiosity is what we intend to develop in this course. Furthermore, we intend to make your learning in an integrated way with you at the center. If you’re interested, sign in and join us.

Course Description

Physiology is the study of normal functions of human body at different levels such as cells, tissues, organ systems and the whole body. It is considered as one of the most important basic sciences in medicine. At SUMC, this study is taken as a course whereby students learn fundamental physiological concepts relevant to clinical practice. The course aims to help students establish close connection of physiological principles and other essential concepts relevant to understand diseases and other aspects of medicine. In this way, students get trained in clinical reasoning from the very start of their medical studies. The ultimate outcome of the course is for students to integrate physiological principles and perspectives into their future studies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

1. explain important concepts and principles of human physiology at various levels of body organization, in daily activities and during altered states of body functions;

2. predict clinical manifestations of organ systems during normal states and when such organ systems fail to function normally;

3. figure out structure and function relationships at various levels of human body organization;

4. connect and relate physiological concepts to other basic sciences and clinical disciplines within the study of medicine; and

5. demonstrate professional and ethical perspectives relevant to the study of physiology and other medical courses.

Learning and Teaching in the Course

1.      For each topic, a clinical case or scenario will be given to “bridge in” students to the physiological concepts and principles to be learned in the lesson proper.

2.      After the case, students will be engaged in learning the key principles and concepts in various methods.

3.      The conclusion of each topic will involve students in connecting what they have learned to the case given previously.

4.      Please see the Assessment and Grading section for other requirements of the course.

Topics
1    Basic concepts and   principles
2    The Cells
3    Neurophysiology  
4    The Blood
5    Cardiovascular   system  
6    Respiratory   system 
7    Renal physiology 
8    Fluid-electrolytes   and acid-base balance
9    Gastrointestinal   physiology
10    Metabolism and   Temperature regulation  
11    Endocrine   physiology  
12    Reproductive   physiology
 

Tips for your success in learning clinical physiology

1.        The best way to learn physiology is through application and discussion. End of chapter quizzes are for checking your understanding.

2.        If you have doubts, ask questions in the discussion forum/s that will be available at certain times. Members of our teaching team will guide you in your learning journey.  

3.        You will most likely succeed in your studies if you are capable of doing self-directed learning and are responsible, accountable and reflective during the learning process.

Lecturer

	Zhongfang Zhang Shantou University Medical College Associate Professor MD, PhD, Associated Professor of Physiology. Course Director, responsible for course design, development and administration. Director of Center for Faculty Development and vice-director of Teaching Affair Office of SUMC. Global Faculty/Project Advisor, Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) Institute (USA). Dr. Zhang is very experienced in interactive instruction, flipped class, online course design, curriculum development, education management and faculty development. She delivers more than 100 lectures for undergraduate students and about 50 workshops for medical faculty.
	马俊强 Shantou University Medical College Neurosurgery Resident Junqiang Ma graduated from Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) in 2014. Then he was admitted to a Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta in January, 2015. His research focused on treatments for acute ischemic stroke. Junqiang successfully defended his thesis and graduated as a Ph.D. in 2019. Now Dr.Junqiang Ma works as a neurosurgeon in the First Affiliated Hospital of SUMC. His ability to teach in English was qualified by the Faculty Development Center of SUMC in early 2020. He is now actively involved in teaching.
	Shen Jiaxin Shantou University Medical College 0 -M.S. of Oncology. -Physician, Hematology Department, 1st Affiliated Hospital of SUMC -Qualified All-English Medical Teacher -Certified Clinical Teacher -3-year, Medical English Course (Practices and Principles of Medicine) -1year, Human Structure -1year, Geriatric Medicine
	刘静 Shantou University Medical College 0 Jing Liu, Female, Medical Doctor, Associated Professor, Master Supervisor, Department of Physiology. Since 2013, Dr. Liu has been working as a teacher, involved in courses as “Digestion and Nutrition”, “Cardiovascular and Respiration” and so on, with an average of more than 150 class hours per year.
	Wenlong HUANG Shantou University Medical College Medical Doctor Wenlong Huang graduated from Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) in 2014. Then he was admitted to a Ph.D. program in Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta in early 2015. His research focused on islet xenotransplantation, specifically, on characterization of genetic modified pig islets for transplantation as well as transplantation immunology. Wenlong successfully defended his thesis and graduated as a Ph.D. in 2019. Now Wenlong works as a general surgeon in General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SUMC. His ability to teach in English was qualified by the Faculty Development Center of SUMC in early 2020. He is now actively involved in teaching.
	Xinhua He Shantou University Medical College lecturer of physiology department of SUMC No related introduction ~
	Lin Nuan Shantou University Medical College 0 Dr. Lin is specializing in reproductive medicine and has been teaching since 2018. On average, she is responsible for 38-hour classes per year. She is committed, energetic and creative. She presents lessons in a comprehensive manner and always uses visual/audio means to facilitate learning. To promote interactive learning, individualized instruction, progress assessment and feedback to each student are usually provided. She won a second prize in the SUMC Teaching Competition of the Young in 2019 and she is very welcomed among undergraduates.
	Patrick Yu Tan Shantou University Medical College Associate Professor MD, Associate Professor and consultant of Center for Faculty Development, is the course director of Principles and Practice of Medicine. He is experienced in medical course design, interactive instruction, student development and faculty training. He teaches more than 100 hours each year.