SYLLABUS
College of Medicine
AY 2015-2016
Course title and number
Term
Meeting times and
location
Field Training in World Hunger and Malnutrition: Practical Skills to Make a Difference
Fall
Offered in Lineville, Alabama at the SIFAT (sifat.org) training campus
Must have approval of Dr. Regina Bentley
Course Description and Prerequisites
Practical skills to address hunger and malnutrition in the developing world will be taught. Classes will occur
at SIFAT’s 176-acre rural International Training Campus (sifat.org). Some hands-on components will be in the
simulated Global Village. Intensive hands-on learning will provide learners a tool-kit to address basic human
needs.
Other Course information
At the same time practical skills are taught, understanding of world hunger and community development
issues will be deepen through participatory activities. Learners will have the opportunity to:






Learn roof-top gardening
Build a simple solar cooker
Make leaf concentrate to treat malnourished children
Learn some simple technologies for clean water and sanitation
Build fuel-efficient cookstoves
Learn to preserve foods and “refrigerate” without electricity
SIFAT trainers are experienced in international development and cross-cultural dynamics.
Instructor Information
Elective Director
Name
Telephone number
Email address
Office hours
Office location
Dr. Regina Bentley
979-571-0510
bentley@tamhsc.edu
By appointment
HPEB 3063
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Coordinator
Name
Johna Pettit-Wright
Telephone number 979-436-0626
Email address pettitt@tamhsc.edu
Office hours By appointment
Office location HPEB 3061C
Learning Outcomes & Objectives
Course Objective:
1. Describe
COM Competency
Based Learning
Objectives
(CBLO):
of major
causes of world hunger
and malnutrition
MK3, PC13
2. Demonstrate specific
appropriate
technologies that can be
used to combat hunger
ICS4, SPB3,
and malnutrition
Illustrate increased
sensitivity to community
development and cross- PROF4, SBB7,
CCI
cultural issues
4. Engage in dialogue,
critical thinking, and
MK4, PROF7,
hands-on learning.
Taught (T)
and/or
Evaluated (E):
Evaluation:
Taught and
Evaluated
Faculty
Evaluated
Taught and
Evaluated
Faculty
Evaluated
Taught and
Evaluated
Faculty
Evaluated
Taught and
Evaluated
Faculty
Evaluated
Taught and
Evaluated
Faculty
Evaluated
3.
5. Appraise new networking
avenues in international
development.
PBL15
MK3
Demonstrate an understanding of how healthy lifestyles, psychosocial factors, and
behavioral factors influence heath
PC13
Perform basic health risk assessment and formulate appropriate screening plans
ICS4
Educate patients, patients' family members, peers, and other members of the health care
team at an appropriate level using appropriate technologies
SBP3
Demonstrate an understanding of cost containment principles and their application in the
delivery of health care
PROF
4
Treat patients and patients' family members respectfully and compassionately, regardless of
age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual preference, and socioeconomic status
SBP7
Recognize health care system deficiencies regarding social needs, access to care issues,
and health disparities when they arise and develop strategies for optimal care of each
individual patient.
CC1
Demonstrate an understanding of the manner in which diverse cultures and belief systems
perceive health and illness and respond to various symptoms, diseases, and treatments.
MK4
Apply evidenced-based methods to clinical problem solving
PROF
7
Demonstrate an awareness of leadership roles in medicine and society
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PBLI5
Select, appraise, and utilize evidence from scientific studies related to clinical questions and
patients' health problems
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Textbook and/or Resource Material
All materials will be provided by SIFAT.
The final course grade will be based on the following
Pass
Fail
GRADING SCALE
Complete all required activities during the week.
Not completing all required activities during the week.
Attendance and Make-up Policies
TAMHSC – COM student handbook states: Students who miss more than 20% of a 4th year elective for any reason (2
weekdays during a two-week rotation or 4 weekdays for 4 week rotation) will require a remediation plan. However
because elective schedules often vary considerably from a standard academic schedule, and students are often
requesting extended time off during the interview season, each elective director is encouraged to consider your own
attendance and remediation policy.
Course Topics
I. Food Production:
Make raised beds for gardening
Set up simple drip irrigation
Identify options for urban gardening and gardening in difficult conditions
Demonstrate alternatives to expensive commercial fertilizers and pesticides
Suggest modifications for gardening for those with HIV/AIDS
Name key underutilized tropical plants with much promise
II. Water and Sanitation Technologies:
Make a simple water pump
Make a tippy-tap
Set up a Bio-sand filter
Learn the SODIS method of water purification
Identify other low-tech methods of water purification
Identify major latrine types and advantages
Explain connection between hunger and water / sanitation
III. Food Preservation/Fortification Technologies:
Make a simple solar dryer and preserve foods by drying
Consider additional methods of food preservation
Make leaf powder and leaf concentrate
Cook a variety of foods fortified with leaf powder
Identify ways of reducing loss of post-harvest food
IV. Child Nutrition/Health:
Assess basic child malnutrition in a community
Identify most effective intervention strategies
Identify major micronutrient deficiencies and strategies for reduction
Promote basic child survival technologies such as GOBI appropriately
Address parasites at the community level
Make nutritious weaning foods
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V. Alternative Household Energy:
Build and cook with a solar cooker
Build and cook with a fireless cooker (haybox cooker)
Build and cook with a sawdust stove
Build and cook with a 16-brick stove
Demonstrate core principles of fuel efficient cookstoves
Explain how household energy use impacts world hunger
VI. Community Development / Needs & Resource Assessment:
Demonstrate group participatory methods to raise community awareness and participation in addressing basic human
needs.
Become sensitized to the vital importance of community participation for sustainability and true community development.
Understand key cross-cultural differences and know strategies for bridge-building
Discover the power of networking and asset-based development.
Be familiar with the CD library resource collection in appropriate technologies and community development distributed at
SIFAT.
Calendar of Activities
Program begins 6 p.m. Sunday night, August 16 and ends after lunch August 22. Additional training opportunities are
planned for most evenings, including a simulation experience in SIFAT’s Urban Slum in the Global Village, cross-cultural
activities, group activities for team building and community development, and a Saturday Field Trip.
Major Assignment Dates
Assignments are due at various times during the week.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights
protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be
guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you
have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 8451637. For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu
Any student with a disability who needs accommodation should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course.
Academic Integrity
For additional information please visit: http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
College of Medicine
Professionalism and integrity Statement (Academic Honesty and Plagiarism)
All College of Medicine students are required to comply with the student code of conduct and the academic integrity and
honesty standards published in each component’s Student Handbook. Disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with
the policies of each component. Students found guilty of Academic Dishonesty will receive an “F”/Unsatisfactory in the
course. For a full list of actions qualifying as academic dishonesty, please review the College of Medicine Student
Handbook at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf.
According to the Aggie Honor System Office, plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of another person's ideas,
processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of
another as one’s own (i.e., without crediting the author or creator). Plagiarism and other academic misconduct definitions
can be viewed on the Aggie Honor System Office website;
http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/RulesAndProcedures/HonorSystemRules.aspx#definitions.
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E-mail Access and FERPA
The College of Medicine is communicating all official information to students through the students’ TAMHSC e-mail
accounts. Please check the account frequently during the semester for updates.
This course is supported with web-based and/or e-mail activities. In order to take advantage of these additional resources
and participate fully in the course, you have been assigned an e-mail address by the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
This e-mail address is for internal use only, so that faculty may communicate with you and the entire class. By registering
for this course, you are agreeing to allow your classmates to have access to this e-mail address. Should you have any
questions, please contact the TAMU’s Office of the Registrar at 979-845-1031.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which the HSC complies fully, is intended to protect the
privacy of education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records and to
provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also
have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office of the Department of Education
in Washington, D.C., concerning alleged failures by the HSC to comply with the act.
Mistreatment of Students
The College of Medicine is committed to providing a positive learning environment in which students can meet their
academic goals based on mutual respect in the teacher/learner relationship. Both parties must be sensitive to the needs
of others and differences in gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability. As outlined in the Student
Handbook under the section titled Standards of Conduct in the Teacher-Learner Relationship, belittlement, intimidation
and humiliation are unacceptable for effective learning and undermine self-esteem. Breaches involving student
mistreatment may result in a faculty or staff member being sanctioned or the loss of faculty and/or staff appointment.
These policies address student mistreatment involving College of Medicine employees, residents, affiliate staff, or
patients. Mistreatment may be reported through the College of Medicine telephone hotline, 1(855)-397-9835 or through
an online form at http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/current/student-mistreatment-form.html. For a full list of reporting avenues,
please refer to the Student Handbook under the Mistreatment Policy.
Exposure and Occupational Hazard
The Needle Stick Policy and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure information for Medical Students may be accessed in the
Student Handbook at: http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/student-affairs/docs/handbook.pdf
Note: More information is available on the aforementioned topics to all students on the College of Medicine website.
Date Created/Revised: ___5/6/2015__ By: __CO___