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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - GMS6310
Tracking Number - 2496

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Current Status: Approved, Permanent Archive - 2011-08-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC for review 4/4/11; form corrected 6/1/11; reviewed 6/6/11; objectives need rev. emailed 6/29/11. cleared 6/30/11; GC approved 7/5/11. To USF Syst 7/5/11; to SCNS 7/13/11. SCNS questioned GMS vs. BMS. Approved GMS 6310. Eff 8/1/11


Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2011-03-08
  2. Department: Dean's Office
  3. College: MD
  4. Budget Account Number: 0-6108-000
  5. Contact Person: Michael J. Barber, D.Phil.
  6. Phone: 813 974 9908
  7. Email: mbarber@health.usf.edu
  8. Prefix: GMS
  9. Number: 6310
  10. Full Title: Toxic Metals & Functional Toxicology
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: Y
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Toxic Metals
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: None
  23. Corequisites: None
  24. Course Description: Designed to give a broad understanding of the central role that various heavy metals, such as As, Hg & Pb, and other toxins have in the progression of various pathological conditions.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine represents a new and evolving discipline in the medical sciences that deals with an integrative and functional medicine approach to healthcare and disease prevention. The discipline combines evidence-based medicine with new approaches to therapeutics.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 1 time
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) All instructors will possess PhD, MD or PharmD degrees or equivalent and have experience in integrative medicine and patient care.
  29. Objectives: At the completion of this course, the students will be able to:

    Identify key pathways of exposure and pathways of transport of toxins in the environment.

    Discuss the principles of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics and how they enhance toxicity.

    Compare and contrast the role of regulatory agencies and permissible exposure limits (PEL‘s) in occupational exposures.

    Discuss the use of MSDS in hazard communication.

    Explain the basics of epidemiologic approach to disease and risk management issues.

    Understand the mechanisms that cause poor indoor air quality.

    Recognize the signs and symptoms of poor indoor air quality.

    Discuss the basic pathophysiological mechanisms of air pollution ultrafine particulates.

    Appreciate the health effects of air pollution on susceptible populations including those with metabolic syndrome.

    Appreciate the complexity of cause and effect in medical decisions.

    Discuss the use of brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in concert with brain MRI in select neurotoxins.

    Describe the typical pulmonary toxicology caused by inhalational exposures and types of disease that occurs.

    Review and understand both peripheral and central neurotoxins and routes of exposure.

    Identify specific hematological toxins and the mechanism of benzene related bone marrow injury.

    Discuss the basics of olfactory and irritancy based health effects and identify chemicals that cause olfactory disorders and proposed mechanisms of action.

    Discuss the basics of neuropsychological evaluations for chemical exposures and understand the causes of psychological sequelae following toxic exposures.

    Review the health effects of radiation and radioactivity.

    Describe the basic terminology of radiation and radioactivity.

    Discuss the dose-response effect of radiation in causing acute radiation syndrome.

    Discuss the basic management of acute radiation exposure.

    Explain the toxic mechanism of action of organophosphate insecticides and military nerve agents and their pharmacological management.

    Discuss the neuropharmacology involved in organophosphate poisoning.

  30. Learning Outcomes: At the completion of this course, the students will be able to:

    Identify key pathways of exposure and pathways of transport of toxins in the environment.

    Discuss the principles of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics and how they enhance toxicity.

    Compare and contrast the role of regulatory agencies and permissible exposure limits (PEL‘s) in occupational exposures.

    Discuss the use of MSDS in hazard communication.

    Explain the basics of epidemiologic approach to disease and risk management issues.

    Understand the mechanisms that cause poor indoor air quality.

    Recognize the signs and symptoms of poor indoor air quality.

    Discuss the basic pathophysiological mechanisms of air pollution ultrafine particulates.

    Appreciate the health effects of air pollution on susceptible populations including those with metabolic syndrome.

    Appreciate the complexity of cause and effect in medical decisions.

    Discuss the use of brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in concert with brain MRI in select neurotoxins.

    Describe the typical pulmonary toxicology caused by inhalational exposures and types of disease that occurs.

    Review and understand both peripheral and central neurotoxins and routes of exposure.

    Identify specific hematological toxins and the mechanism of benzene related bone marrow injury.

    Discuss the basics of olfactory and irritancy based health effects and identify chemicals that cause olfactory disorders and proposed mechanisms of action.

    Discuss the basics of neuropsychological evaluations for chemical exposures and understand the causes of psychological sequelae following toxic exposures.

    Review the health effects of radiation and radioactivity.

    Describe the basic terminology of radiation and radioactivity.

    Discuss the dose-response effect of radiation in causing acute radiation syndrome.

    Discuss the basic management of acute radiation exposure.

    Explain the toxic mechanism of action of organophosphate insecticides and military nerve agents and their pharmacological management.

    Discuss the neuropharmacology involved in organophosphate poisoning.

  31. Major Topics: Major course topics include:

    Toxic Metals & Metabolic Regulation through Chelation

    Basic Principles of Clinical Toxicology: Environmental & Occupational Exposure

    Basic Principles of Clinical Toxicology: Indoor Air Quality Health Effects

    Basic Principles of Clinical Toxicology: Air Pollution & Ultrafine Particles

    Review of Organ System Toxicology: Pulmonary Toxicology &

    Neurotoxicology

    Radiation & Radioactivity

    Organophosphate Poisoning & Military Nerve Agents

    Toxic Gases, Socioeconomic Disparity & Toxic Environment Hazards

    Toxicology & Rheumatologic, Cardiovascular & Endocrine Disorders

    Principles & Practice of Neurotoxicology

    Blood Brain Barrier: Friend or Foe

    Epigenetic Mechanisms in Behavioral Neurotoxicology

    Patterns & Mechanisms of Toxicity

    Toxicology & Renal & Bladder Disorders

    Toxins & Gulf War Illness & Organic Nitrogen Compounds

    Toxicology of Oils, Petroleum Derivatives, Plastics & Synthetic Textiles

    Toxicology of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Ocular Toxicology

    Toxicology of Formaldehyde, Aldehydes & Chronic Metal Toxicity

  32. Textbooks: Friis, Robert, "Essentials of Environmental Health". Jones & Bartlett, 2007.
  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: Additional and appropriate readings will be identified and posted on Blackboard
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: 3 case studies (research papers) 15% each, 45% of grade Comprehensive midterm exam 23% of grade

    Comprehensive final exam 23% of grade

    5 webcasts 9% of grade

  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests: The course requires completion of:

    4 unit quizzes (self-assessment)

    3 case studies (research papers)

    Comprehensive midterm exam

    Comprehensive final exam 5 webcasts

  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work: For documented student absences, such as for illness, students will be allowed to make up any missing case reports or exams. Students will be required to abide by USF policy on academic integrity as described in course syllabus
  38. Program This Course Supports: M.S. in Medical Sciences: Metabolic & Nutritional Medicine concentration
  39. Course Concurrence Information: None


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.