Mini-Medical School Round Rock Begins October 7, 2010 for Six Weeks

The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Round Rock Campus is hosting the first annual "Mini-Medical School" beginning Thursday, October 7, 2010 and ending November 11, 2010.   Each weekly session will begin at 6 p.m. in the St. David's Foundation Lecture Hall within the Texas A&M Health Science Center at 3950 North A.W. Grimes Boulevard, Round Rock.

You are welcome to attend all programs within the series or just those that interest you.  A suggested tuition for the entire series of $100 per attendee is requested but not required for attendance.  Call 512-341-4938 for more information.  Seating is limited.

Make your required reservations one of the following ways:

•      Register on-line using link on the left
•      Email dodge@medicine.tamhsc.edu
•      Call 512-341-4938

Following is an agenda of speakers and topics:

October 7  - "The Use of Technology in Today's Medical School"

T. Samuel Shomaker, M.D., J.D.

The Jean and Thomas McMullin Dean of the College of Medicine

Vice President for Clinical Affairs for the Texas A&M Health Science Center

Recently appointed as Dean, Dr. Shomaker is responsible for the Texas A&M Health Science Center's medical education programs.  Attendees will participate in hands-on demonstrations of the Health Science Center's Simulation Center technology.

October 14  - "Texas A&M HSC: A Member of Your Community Today, Opportunities for Greater Partnerships Tomorrow"

Nancy W. Dickey, M.D.

President, Texas A&M Health Science Center

Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, Texas A&M System

Dr. Dickey has been President of the Texas A&M Health Science Center since 2002 and is a former President of the American Medical Association.  Dr. Dickey will speak about the growth of health professions education at the Texas A&M HSC and elsewhere and the implications for education and patient care in the anticipated changes of health system reform.

October 21 - "Psychiatric Conditions Affecting an Aging Population"

Virginia Garay, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Garay is the Vice Director of the Lone Star Circle of Care Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and the Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry.

October 28 - "Influenza: Past, Present, and Future"

Edward J. Sherwood, M.D.

Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Continuing Medical Education and Lifelong Learning

Dr. Sherwood is the former chair of the Texas Medical Association Committee on Infectious Diseases and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease.

November 4  - "The Healthy Gut: Complementary and Integrative Practices to Improve Your Health"

Victor S. Sierpina, M.D.

WD and Laura Nell Nicholson Family Professor of Integrative Medicine
Professor, Family Medicine UTMB
University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Professor

Author of The Healthy Gut Workbook, Dr. Sierpina has championed complementary and alternative medicine techniques to maximize benefits for his patients for more than 20 years.  His curriculum, which integrates alternative medicine into the traditional medical school model, has been adopted nationwide.

November 11, Veterans Day  - "Successful Reintegration of our Nation's War Heroes"

Kathryn J. Kotrla, M.D.

Associate Dean for the Round Rock Campus

Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Kotrla is the former Chair of Psychiatry at Scott & White and the former Chief of Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.  She currently is responsible for the College of Medicine's operations at the Round Rock campus.

About Mini-Medical School

Ever wanted to go to medical school but couldn't stomach the thought of a gross anatomy lab? Now you can, without the fear of exams, student loans or cadavers. The College of Medicine, Round Rock Campus is now offering  Mini-Medical School for members of the local community who are interested in medicine and science.

The purpose of the Mini-Medical School, planned for six consecutive Thursday evenings in October and November, is to offer current health-related information to members of the community in a relaxed, educational atmosphere.  The program also serves to familiarize attendees with medical terminology, enhance scientific knowledge and give new insights into medical research. Our goal is for all Mini-Medical School "students" to come away from the program with a better understanding of health, science, medicine and research.

Each session lasts approximately an hour and a half, which includes presentations by faculty experts on a specific topic, followed by a question and answer period.

Want more information? Contact Courtney Dodge at dodge@medicine.tamhsc.edu or call 512-341-4938.

About the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine Round Rock Campus

The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine is a community-based medical school providing third- and fourth-year clinical training at regional clinical campuses

around the state through affiliations through local physicians, clinics and hospitals.  At the Round Rock clinical campus, clerkship directors direct the students' rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery at sites across Williamson County.  Additional community physicians serve as clerkship faculty in these and other clinical areas.

The Round Rock campus has moved into the first building of the newly constructed Texas A&M Health Science Center campus.  The building is located off of FM1460, South of County Road 112 at 3950 North A.W. Grimes Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78665.