Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
nutrition and dermatology to psychology and oncology.
It's possible for someone to practice medicine without learning the interconnectedness of the
underlying anatomy with the biochemical basis for disease—many advances in medicine were based
on accidental discoveries, as opposed to reasoning from first principles. However, for true
understanding of the disease process and how to treat it, the interconnectedness of organic
chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology generally have to be mastered. Because of human
memory limitations, most clinicians specialize in relatively limited areas that they can master—that
is, areas in which they can develop and maintain linkages.
An orthopedic surgeon may not need to understand the intricacies of the Central Dogma in his daily
practice. Similarly, real understanding of the germ theory isn't required to perform an aseptic
operation, such as a hip replacement—as long as proper procedure is followed. However, when things
don't go as expected—for example, if the patient requires a new hip replacement after three years
instead of the usual five—it's in 88the patient's best interest if the surgeon can reason from first
principles, using his interlinked knowledge of skeletal and muscle anatomy, engineering, and clinical
experience with hip prostheses to prevent a reoccurrence of premature failure. Often, as in the use of
a search engine, the solution involves innovation—creating new links between existing knowledge.
Table 4-4. Typical Physician Training. The typical pre-clinical and clinical
curricula, with a sampling of a possible pre-medical experience, illustrate
the mesh of knowledge required for physicians to adequately understand
and manage the disease process.
Pre-Medical
Pre-Clinical
Clinical
Differential Equations
Anatomy
Anesthesia
Physics
Biochemistry
Dermatology
Calculus
Microbiology
Endocrinology
Chemistry
Parasitology
Geriatrics
Genetics
Pharmacology
Hematology
Molecular Biology
Internal Medicine
Organic Chemistry
Neonatology
Strength of Materials
Nutrition
Statistics
OB/GYN
Dynamics
Oncology
Computer Science
Orthopedics
Art
Pediatrics
History
Plastic Surgery
Languages
Psychology
Sociology
Pulmonary Medicine
Psychology
Radiology
Engineering
Surgery
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