Course Offerings

This one-credit course uses a combination of didactic instruction and case-based learning to introduce practical tools that facilitate translational research. The course features 12 one-hour sessions, each led by a basic scientist or physician-scientist with expertise in translational research. During the final session, students will present proposals outlining how they would incorporate a clinical or translational component into their own research programs using the methods and concepts covered throughout the course.

You can view the Fall 2025 syllabus here.

Please address any inquiries about the course and registration to Mary Gray: mary.g.lindstrom@vanderbilt.edu.

The aim of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive, organ system-based overview of human biology and disease pathophysiology from a clinical perspective. Unlike other courses offered at Vanderbilt, this course takes a broad, clinically focused approach by covering all major organ systems through the lens of patient care rather than basic science. The curriculum includes 15 two-hour sessions spanning 12 organ systems, with each session led by a physician or physician-scientist who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases affecting that organ system.

Students may choose to attend 5, 10, or all 15 sessions to earn 1, 2, or 3 didactic credit hours.

You can view the Summer 2026 syllabus here.

Please address any inquiries about the course and registration to Starr Hollyfield: starr.hollyfield@vumc.org.