BSHS Selectives 2023-2024
Selectives Type:  Basic Science

Selective Title
Aerospace Medicine at CAMI (BSHS Credit)
Course Number
PMCU 4018
Prerequisites: Must be Aerospace Medicine Scholarly Concentration student; successful completion of all Year 3 requirements; C Form required no less than two weeks prior to enrollment
Responsible Faculty Director:
Ronak Shah, DO, MBA
Other Faculty:
Amy Kreykes
Contact Information
rvshah@utmb.edu Coordinators: Heather Peel (hbpeel@utmb.edu), Yvette Schulz (ryschulz@utmb.edu)
Periods Offered
1-12
including holiday period 8
Maximum Enrollment
2

Learning Objectives
Students will utilize basic forms of analytical and evaluative research in population health specific to pilots using data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Students will conduct a feasible research project concerning biostatistics and epidemiology focusing on pilots in the FAA medical certificate system.

Successful completion of this course will ensure that students are prepared to:

1. Develop an answerable research question relevant to Aerospace Medicine;
2. Locate and synthesize pertinent literature and population data;
3. Propose an appropriate study design and data collection method to analyze the question; and
4. Discuss the implications of research for the practice of clinical medicine in the field of Aviation and Space medicine.

Describe the qualifications background and career goals or interests of students who would benefit from the course:
This course is appropriate for medical students interested in Aerospace Medicine as well as public health careers. This course will fulfill a required selective for the Aerospace Medicine Scholarly Concentration.

Description of course activities
Students will be paired with a faculty member who will mentor the student in their research at the Civil Aviation Medical Institute to complete an empirical research project.

Proposed time requirement (%) for the student activities per 40-hour week:
Activity Percent of Activity
Faculty contact time

20

Self-directed study

30

Data collection/analysis

50

Other


Method of student evaluation

Check all that apply - complete appropriate section(s) only:
1.  Grading
   
A. Please specify your grading criteria for outstanding performance:
  Evidence of weekly progress on project based on meetings and/or communication with faculty mentor. Successful completion of a 12+ page written empirical data analysis. Oral presentation of scholarly project.

2.  Written Assignment (Homework, projects, notes, papers, abstracts, etc.)
A. Frequency of written assignment(s)
  Final Paper.
B. Type of written assignment
  Seminars or tutorials culminating in a research paper.
Basic science research plus documented written report.
Humanities, social sciences, biostatistical or epidemiological research culminating in a scholarly paper or written report.
Clinically-based written reports focusing on a basic science or humanities problem.
Journal club written reports
Grant proposals
Literature review
Oral presentation plus written report.
Other modality with a self-directed, scholarly research component culminating in a written report.
C. Format of written assignment
  Scholarly paper (12+ pages)
D. Method of content selection (student-selected, assigned, relate to cases, etc.)
  Student selected topic in consultation with CAMI and faculty mentor.

3.  Oral Presentation
  A. Frequency / duration of presentation(s)?
    Final oral presentation of project.
  B. Type and format of presentation
    Power point presentation to Aerospace Medicine Scholarly Concentration faculty and students concerning experienes at CAMI and research paper.
  D. Assessment - Who assesses the student's presentation performance?
    Self-assessment   Peer assessment   Faculty assessment
  E. Method of content selection
    Student-selected topic   Assigned topic

4.  Professionalism
  What expectations do you have for the student to demonstrate participation in the elective (e.g. small group activities, seminars, thoughtful questions, providing resources, journal club, resident lecture attendance)?

The instructor will discuss principles of appropriate attribution and the referencing of literature with the student. The student is expected to understand and to adhere to the principle that all presented work must be solely the student’s own.

    Public health ethics and research ethics are expected to meet the highest standard as demonstrated at UTMB. Student will be interfacing with professionals within their field of future interest and will represent UTMB with integrity, compassion, and respect as outlined in the UTMB Honor Pledge.

5.  Other Modes of Evaluation
  Please explain below.