ISC: Clinical Cancer Medicine

School of Medicine

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The World Health Organization estimates that the number of new cancer cases and cancer deaths will increase by 50% and 60%, respectively, within the next 20 years. Although in the United States, the overall cancer death rate has declined, the number of cancer survivors has increased and is expected to rise to 19 million people by 2024. Physicians practicing in any specialty can expect to care for patients, with significant co-morbidities, who have cancer or are cancer survivors. As a result, all medical students should understand the basic mechanisms driving the most common cancers, relevant treatment strategies, treatment toxicities, and outcomes. This course will provide a unique educational opportunity where medical and graduate students work together to explore the foundational principles of cancer biology and how that information is leveraged for personalized patient care. Foundational science topics are broad and include anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, pathology, radiobiology, and toxicology. Students will actively participate in the multidisciplinary approach necessary for the optimal care of cancer patients through clinical experiences and tumor board meetings. The small class size allows us to tailor integrated clinical experiences with students' professional preferences and/or goals. Students will also gain an understanding of patients' expectations and the importance of a broad fund of knowledge in addressing complex clinical problems.