The Genes to Society course is a 15-month course that extends from January of Year One to March of Year Two. This course presents an integrated understanding of human health and disease, using the framework of physiologic systems. Several scientific disciplines, such as biochemistry, cell biology, epidemiology, pathology and pharmacology, are presented in each system. The course uses a combination of lecture, readings, small-group problem-solving, virtual microscopy, pathology laboratories and student-led workshops to achieve learning goals.

Course Goals

The two main course goals are:

• Use the scientific foundations to understand the origins, manifestations, impact and treatment of disease or risk of disease
• Advance students’ professional identity by acquiring the language, problem-solving skills, inquisitiveness, leadership, compassion and teamwork needed in a physician

Course Structure

The systems are organized into four Organ Systems Foundations of Medicine blocks. Each block contains two or more sections.

Year One

• Block 1: OFSM: Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Dermatology, Hematology/Oncology
• Block 2: OFSM: Brain, Mind and Behavior, Nervous System and Special Senses

Year Two

• Block 3: OFSM: Pulmonary, Renal, Cardiovascular
• Block 4: OFSM:  GI/Liver, Endocrine, Reproductive, Musculoskeletal

The course directors for the Genes to Society Course are Henry Fessler, M.D., and Michael Borowitz, M.D. Each section has a section leader who plans the pedagogy for that section.

Course Directors

Michael Joseph Borowitz, M.D., Ph.D.

Director, Division of Hematologic Pathology
Co-Director, Genes to Society
Deputy Director, Education, Department of Pathology
Executive Deputy Director, Department of Pathology
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Oncology

 

Henry Eric Fessler, M.D.

Director of Education, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Professor of Medicine

 

OSFM Immunology

Stuart Campbell Ray, M.D.

Vice Chair of Medicine for Data Integrity and Analytics, Department of Medicine
Research Subcouncil Co-Chair of the JHM Data Trust
Assistant Dean of Research
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Oncology

 

Jonathan Schneck, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Pathology
Professor of Oncology

 

OSFM Microbiology and Infectious Disease

Karen C. Carroll, M.D.

Director, Division Medical Microbiology
Director, ACGME Accredited Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program
Section Director Molecular Epidemiology, Rapid Response Laboratory
Associate Director, Bacteriology Laboratory
Professor of Pathology
Joint Appointment in Medicine

 

Khalil Georges Ghanem, M.D., Ph.D.

Deputy Director of Education, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Professor of Medicine

 

Maunank R Shah, M.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine

 

OSFM Dermatology

Farah Succaria, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Dermatology

 

OSFM Hematology/Oncology

Rakhi Prakash Naik, M.D., M.H.S.

Associate Director for Hematology, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Clinical Director, Division of Hematology
Associate Professor of Medicine

 

Jennifer Yui, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Professor of Medicine

 

OSFM Brain, Mind and Behavior

Vinay Kishor Parekh, M.D.

Director of the Core Clerkship in Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Co-Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Broadway Center for Addiction
Assistant Director, Adult Psychiatric Emergency Services, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

 

Claire Price Zachik, M.D.

Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

 

OSFM Nervous System and Special Senses

Arun Venkatesan, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology

 

Mary Ann Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology

Contact

Natrell Miller Darden
Medical Training Program Administrator
Email: ndarden1@jhu.edu 

For Dermatology:

Marsha Mackey
CO Sr. Administrative Manager
Email: mcunnin5@jhmi.edu

Time Commitment and Course Length

The course runs for 23 weeks.