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Mini Med School looks for students

It's med school minus the scalpels and stethoscopes

- September 25, 2007

Mini Med School appeals to a broad range of people interested in health issues. (Betsy Chambers photo)

Itā€™s not called Mini Med School because it graduates tiny doctors or that the building is particularly small. Itā€™s called Mini Med School because it gives people a little taste of what real med students are learning and the kind of research going on at pilipiliĀž»­ā€™s Faculty of Medicine.

Offered as a pilot project last year, Mini Med School is back as a full-fledged program. Running from October 11 to November 15, it willĀ take placeĀ over six Thursday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building.

ā€œIt went over so well last year that we knew weā€™d have to bring it back,ā€ says Douglas Sinclair, Associate Dean of Continuing Medical Education with Dalhousieā€™s Faculty of Medicine.

ā€œWeā€™ve got a mandate of social accountability. And this seems like such a practical way of giving back to our community. Thereā€™s so much health information out there and itā€™s so hard to interpret it all.ā€

Mini Med School covers a range of topics, including street drugs, adolescent mental health,Ā menopause, premature babies and minimally invasive surgeries.

Lectures, two each session, are delivered by some of Dalhousieā€™s top medical experts. Last year, the lecturesĀ attracted a broad range of people, from undergraduate students contemplating applying to med school to seniors in the community ā€œwith real health information needs,ā€ says Dr. Sinclair. A medical or science background is not required, only a keen interest in health issues. There areĀ no homework assignments or exams.

Registration is now being accepted for Mini Med School. Applicants can apply by fax, email, mail or on the phone with your credit card handy. The cost is $125, or $100 for students and seniors. For more information,Ā visit the .