Health Sciences

Students are required to have attended the Heart and Lung Disease course and to have achieved an adequate level of proficiency in the subject. At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe in depth the indications for surgical intervention, the main surgical techniques, and the expected outcomes in the correction of congenital and acquired heart defects in both pediatric and adult patients.
- Apply the theoretical knowledge to real or simulated clinical cases, identifying the most appropriate surgical approach based on the pathology and clinical context.
- Critically evaluate the indications, risks, and benefits of different surgical options, developing sound clinical judgement in a multidisciplinary setting.
- Communicate clearly with peers and instructors, using appropriate terminology to discuss procedures, risks, and outcomes related to cardiothoracic surgery.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify reliable sources and begin developing an independent learning approach to stay informed about advances in cardiothoracic surgical techniques and guidelines.

Prerequisites: The student must be confident with the knowledge regarding the following topics: human anatomy, physiology, and general mechanisms of diseases. 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to take the patient history, perform the physical examination, formulate the diagnostic hypotheses and set up an appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic procedure for patients suffering from thoracic diseases, endocrine glands, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, anus, liver, pancreas, spleen, abdomen, peritoneum, skin, soft parts and breast, as reported in the program in full. 

Course topics include: Introduction to surgery (surgical risk, complications); Shock (classification, management principles); Infections of surgical interest; Benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant diseases of the stomach (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant diseases of the small intestine (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant colorectal diseases (including principles of surgical therapy); Proctology (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant diseases of the liver and biliary tract (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas (including principles of surgical therapy); Hernias of the abdominal wall and incisional hernia (including principles of surgical therapy); Diseases of the diaphragm (including principles of surgical therapy); Skin cancers (including principles of surgical therapy); Benign and malignant breast diseases (including principles of surgical therapy); Soft tissue tumors (including principles of surgical therapy); Tumors of the peritoneum (including principles of surgical therapy); Endocrine surgery (including principles of surgical therapy); Diseases of the mediastinum (including principles of surgical therapy); Lung tumors (including principles of surgical therapy); Acute abdomen (general framework, etiology, management principles); Diseases of the spleen (benign and malignant); Traumatology (general framework, management principles); Transplantation; Bariatric surgery; Vascular surgery; Critical care medicine; Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of anatomy and physiopathology. 

The course provides students with a solid knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of plastic and reconstructive surgery, with a focus on the management of soft tissue injuries and defects following oncologic resection. Basic concepts related to burn treatment are also introduced. Through theoretical lectures and clinical case discussions, students develop the ability to apply their knowledge in selecting appropriate reconstructive strategies, including skin grafts, local and regional flaps, muscular flaps, and microsurgical techniques. They are also expected to demonstrate independent judgment in evaluating the most effective approaches based on specific clinical contexts.

The course also supports the development of communication skills, as students are encouraged to actively participate in case discussions, articulating their reasoning clearly and effectively. Finally, the course promotes learning skills through an integrated approach that highlights the close relationship between the restoration of function and the aesthetic outcome of reconstructive surgery, with attention to the patient’s physical and emotional recovery.

The course is to understand how evolutionary principles can help us to better explain health and disease.  Why do we get sick? Why are pregnancies complicated? Why do we grow old? Why do infectious diseases have a disproportionate effect in men and women? These fascinating questions are the core of evolutionary medicine. Through case studies, students explore contemporary issues in health and disease –ones that we confront on a regular basis– and ask how evolutionary concepts –e.g., life history theory, cooperation and conflict, constraints and trade-offs, coevolution– help us to understand, mitigate, or combat those issues. 

This course will help students to 1. Understand the origin, development, clinical application and dominant diseases of acupuncture and moxibustion; 2. Be familiar with the experimental progress and scientific research of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of pain, mental disorders, reproductive metabolic diseases, degenerative diseases, bone and joint diseases, etc.