Course Information
Overview
Welcome to the Endocrine and Nutrition Block. We look forward to guiding you through the
pertinent aspects of endocrinology and nutrition that you will need for your boards and for
clinical practice. The instructors for the course represent the Departments of Medicine,
Pediatrics, Nutrition, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and reflect the impact of
endocrine disorders on patients of all ages and the team approach often utilized in diagnosis and
treatment of these conditions.
The course covers a range of topics within endocrinology and nutrition at a level expected of a
second year medical student, including diseases of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid,
calcium and bone, glucose, lipid, and gonadal systems.
We will also cover the basis of clinical nutrition and learn the pathophysiological consequences
of nutritional inadequacies and excesses, preventive nutrition practices, and essentials of medical
nutrition therapy. The content will provide basic information to build upon in the clinical years
when you will assess, counsel, and treat patients with nutritional issues.
Several of the disorders we will discuss (ie osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity) are among the most
prevalent and most disabling conditions seen in medical practice today. They also rank among
the most costly in terms of health care expenditures. It is our hope that by the end of this course
you will have a good working knowledge of how these common diseases develop, how to
diagnose and treat them, what complications may ensue, and how they may be prevented.
Objectives and Goals
Objectives: To provide medical students with sufficient background to permit knowledgeable
recognition of and participation in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with endocrinologic
and nutritional disorders.
Goals: Every UNC student masters the Core Competencies of Preclinical Endocrinology and
Nutrition (detailed in the document Specific Competencies and Learning Objectives in the
Course Resources)
Grading/Evaluation Policy
There will be two in-class, closed-book exams. The format for each exam will be case-based,
multiple choice questions. Any student who is ill for the examination or has some other
emergency that precludes taking the exam on schedule must contact Dr. Dent's office
(Office of Student Affairs) to get permission to take a make-up exam.
1. The Midterm Exam will comprise 35% of the final grade and take place Wed Feb
24th @ 8am. This exam covers all lecture (slides + syllabus) and small group topics
(Pituitary, Adrenal, Thyroid, Calcium/Bone, Gonad, Lipid) presented through the Review
Session which takes place 11am 2/23/10.
2. The Final Exam will comprise 55% of the final grade and take place Friday March
5th @ 10am. This exam is cumulative, and covers all lecture (slides + syllabus) and small
group topics, though material from the latter half of the course, as not previously tested
on the Midterm, will be emphasized.
3. Small group Attendance/Participation will comprise 10% of the final grade (there
are 8 sessions, each comprising 1.25% of the grade). These case based exercises are a
most valuable component toward understanding the concepts that are critical to passing
this course. They provide real-life examples of patient care and clinical reasoning in the
diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and nutritional disorders. We encourage you to
utilize this component to your advantage!
A sign-up sheet will be provided each morning and it will be picked up by 8:30 AM. It is
considered an honor code violation to sign in for anyone other than yourself. Anyone witnessing
an individual signing in for someone else is bound by the honor code to report such an infraction.
Students are expected to participate for the duration of the lab. Absences from these sessions
are excused only if permission is granted from Dr. Dent's office (Office of the Dean of
Student Affairs). Please ask the Office of Student Affairs to notify Dr. Dostou via e-mail once
permission is granted.
*This year we are initiating a pilot of take home practice questions. These questions are optional
and do not count toward your grade. They are intended to help you know the level of information
we want you to learn, and as practice for our exams and for the USLME exams. We will also
hold Review Sessions prior to both the Midterm and the Final Exam.*
The final grades will be determined according to the Universal Grading Policy and will be norm
referenced. Honors will be given to approximately the top 15% of the class. A Failing grade (F)
for this course will generally be a grade of less than 70% that is more than two standard
deviations below the mean, but may vary depending on circumstances and the decision of the
Block Committee. A Pass (P) means that a student’s performance is entirely satisfactory. A
Conditional (CO) grade will be applied in cases when the student’s overall performance meets
the definition of a Failing grade (F), but in the Block Committee’s judgment the student should
be able to pass a re-examination after a brief independent review of the material. A CO grade
should be cleared within 3 weeks of the end of the course, but at the discretion of the Course
Director and the Office of Student Affairs, this time may be extended to no more than 4 weeks
after the end of the semester. Students who receive a grade of CO must contact Dr. Dostou to
discuss the time frame for re-examination.
Small Group Information
The small group sessions, taking place in 5 rooms in Bondurant, MacNider, and Berryhill Halls,
consist of patient management cases to allow you to apply the information provided in the
syllabus and lectures. They emphasize active problem-based learning of pathophysiology
through clinical syndromes commonly encountered by physicians involved in the direct care of
patients. The cases are posted online at the beginning of the course.
All students students are expected to review, prepare, and attempt to answer each of these
cases in advance of the small group session. This will help facilitate your own learning as
well as class discussion. New material may be covered in the small group sessions that is not
covered during the lectures. The answers to these questions will be posted on the electronic
syllabus the afternoon of the day of each small group. Faculty will be available during these
sessions as moderators, to guide you through the cases, to provide additional direction during the
discussions, and to answer other questions you may have. Please refer to the grading policy
above regarding attendance and participation. We consider the small group sessions a key
element of the course, in that many of the exam questions are derived directly from these cases
and related disorders.
Textbook/Materials
Purchase of a textbook in endocrinology or nutrition is not required. You should find the
endocrine, laboratory medicine, and nutrition portions of the syllabus sufficient and useful even
in your 3rd and 4th years.
For endocrinology, Harrison’s Endocrinology, 2006, McGraw-Hill, ed Jameson, is a good
introductory text. There are copies reserved in the bookstore, and 1 copy reserved for loan in the
Health Sciences Library.
For pathology, you will find the text you already have to be a useful supplement to the lecture
material: Rubin's Pathology: Clinicopathologic Foundations of Medicine, 5th edition, 2007.
For nutrition, Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. ME Shils, et al is accessible via
http://www.hsl.unc.edu/Books/EBookSearch.cfm (remember to log off when done using this
resource).
There are several additional electronic text references for endocrinology, nutrition, and
pharmacology available through the Health Science Library. If you feel you need additional
material, you might check these resources.
Course Directors
The course directors are: Jean Dostou, MD (Endocrinology/Block Chairperson), Catherine
Hammett-Stabler, PhD (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine), Beth Mayer-Davis, PhD (Nutrition
and Public Health), and Julie Sharpless, MD (Endocrinology).
Please direct questions about course content to the appropriate lecturer or discuss the question
with your small group instructors. Their e-mail addresses are in the faculty roster below.
Faculty List
Faculty Name
Buse, John
Title
Email Address
Profess john_buse@med.unc.edu
Phone
966-
Department
Medicine,
or
0134
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Clemmons, David
Profess endocrine@med.unc.edu
or
9663339
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
D'Ercole, Joe
Profess joe_dercole@med.unc.edu
or
9664435
Pediatrics,
Endocrinology
Dostou, Jean
Associa jean_dostou@med.unc.edu
te
Profess
or
9660134
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Hadler, Susan
Associa susan_hadler@pathology.unc.e 843te
du
4662
Profess
or
Pathology and
Laboratory
Medicine
Hammett-Stabler,
Catherine
Profess catherine_hammettor
stabler@med.unc.edu
9663724
Pathology and
Laboratory
Medicine
Holliday, Amanda
Clinical amanda_holliday@unc.edu
Assista
nt
Profess
or
9667214
Nutrition
Kirk, Tripuraneni
Assista tripuraneni_kirk@med.unc.edu 966nt
0134
Profess
or
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Klett, Eric
Assista eric_klett@med.unc.edu
nt
Profess
or
8433289
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Mayer-Davis,
Elizabeth
Profess mayerdav@med.unc.edu
or
9661991
Medicine
Maygarden, Susan
Profess susan.maygarden@pathology.u 933or
nc.edu
1071
Pathology and
Laboratory
Medicine
McCudden,
Christopher
Assista christopher_mccudden@med.u 843nt
nc.edu
9364
Profess
or
Pathology and
Laboratory
Medicine
O'Connell, Thomas
Assista tom_oconnell@med.unc.edu
nt
Profess
or
9664767
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Ontjes, David
Profess david_ontjes@med.unc.edu
or
9663336
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Rubin, Janet
Profess janet_rubin@med.unc.edu
or
9666744
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Sharpless, Julie
Assista julie_sharpless@med.unc.edu
nt
Profess
or
9664735
Medicine,
Endocrinology and
Metabolism
Shea, Tom
Profess tom_shea@med.unc.edu
or
9667746
Hematology/Oncol
ogy
Weinstein, Lisa
Associa lisa_weinstein@med.unc.edu
te
Profess
or
8431093
Pathology and
Laboratory
Medicine