About the History of Alzheimer's Disease Grant- History of Alzheimer's Disease - Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies - Grant provided by the National Institutes of Health

History of Alzheimer's Disease

Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies

Michigan State University’s Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies has designed an innovative course that brings a historical context to the modern practice of medicine.

The History of Diseases approach is unique in its presentation of specific diseases through the centuries. Students will learn how an illness was experienced, perceived, and treated from ancient times up to the present. The first course examines Alzheimer’s Disease.

With sponsorship by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, development of the History of Diseases model is being led by Principal Investigator Luis H. Toledo-Pereyra, MD, PhD. The project promotes a blended approach to education, presenting inter-disciplinary content through synchronous and asynchronous class experiences. The information system developed for this project will serve as a model for other institutions and other disciplines.

A combination of teaching methods will be used. Real-time lectures and discussions will be complemented with a web-based knowledge portal. A dynamic timeline will be used to help track social, scientific and medical advancements. Through distance learning technology, students at the University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico will collaborate with students in Kalamazoo to create an international learning community.

The History of Diseases course provides a rich interdisciplinary experience for students. By incorporating history into the teaching of medicine, students gain valuable perspective and develop a healthy skepticism. With a blend of instructional techniques, students from all learning styles will be challenged and engaged by the curriculum.