It provides the student with knowledge of the scope of podiatric medicine, provides the foundation to critically analyze scientific literature, and continues the development of problem solving skills. This introductory course takes an organ system approach to understanding the common diseases and disorders that affect the lower extremity. The student is taught how the signs and symptoms of these disorders are gathered and analyzed to arrive at a proper diagnosis. Problem solving skills in clinical medicine are stressed throughout the course. This course is devoted to the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of commonly encountered medical illnesses.
Special emphasis is placed on systemic disorders affecting the lower extremity.
A balanced view of the range of problems encountered by the primary care physician is discussed, allowing the student to recognize and be well informed about major medical problems outside of podiatric medicine so that appropriate referrals can be made. This is a comprehensive lecture and clinical experience presented in the third year. The experience is divided into three components. The first component, taught at Scholl College, includes lectures and videos and may involve role playing by students and instructors to develop skills in obtaining the medical history and performing a physical examination enabling the student to recognize normal and abnormal physical findings. The second component involves the student taking the Standardized Patient Examination through the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago.