Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Education (D.I.M.E.)

Primary contact: Jamie Anderson, M.S., M.A., Director, D.I.M.E.

D.I.M.E. Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Division of Interdisciplinary Medical Education is to provide curriculum opportunities for students in the health professions that challenge them to develop and refine clinical reasoning skills based on integrating information from a broad range of scientific disciplines.

Our Interdisciplinary courses are listed below with information and contacts.

Year 1

MED 603
(CPS I)

Clinical Problem-Solving I
Applying self-directed investigative and group discussion techniques to acquire foundational knowledge about the diagnosis and management of common medical problems. Limited to M.D. students.

Tom Hunt, M.D.


Jamie Anderson, M.S., M.A.

MED 605
(IPC I)

Introduction to Patient Care I
Lectures, demonstrations, small group sessions and preceptorships designed to address doctor-patient communication skills. Focus on screening the healthy patient for health risks, history and physical. Limited to M.D. students.

Aditya Bhargava, M.D.


Amy McFarland, M.P.H.

Year 2

MED 604
(CPS II)

Clinical Problem-Solving II
Applying self-directed investigative and group discussion techniques to acquire foundational knowledge about the diagnosis and management of common medical problems. Limited to M.D. students. Prerequisite: MED 603

Catherine McCarthy, M.D.

MED 606
(IPC II)

Introduction to Patient Care II
Lectures, small groups, standardized patients, and preceptorships designed to address the doctor-patient interaction and to polish student physical examination and interviewing skills. Limited to M.D. students. Prerequisite: MED 672

Aditya Bhargava, M.D.


Amy McFarland, M.P.H.

MED 609

Community Medicine and Health Policy
Lectures, group projects and small group problem solving sessions teach students the functions of public health and community medicine and convey core knowledge of biostatistics and epidemiology.

Dave Fiore, M.D.

Year 3

MED 651

Clinical Reasoning in Medicine
Ambulatory clinical experience with preceptorial supervision; develop knowledge (practical, theoretical, basic science), technical and interpersonal skills for practicing general medicine including internal and family medicine. Limited to M.D. students.

Trudy A. Larson , M.D.


John Varras, M.D.


Jamie Anderson, M.S., M.A.

Year 4

MED 608

Advanced Clinical Experience in Rural Health Care
Selected practical experiences with patients and communities in rural Nevada with faculty advisement and supervision, including, but not limited to, the following areas: (1) rural practice problems (natural history and available diagnostic and therapeutic techniques); (2)assessment of rural health care needs; (3) referral and consultation, including interaction; (4) the patient as a family and community member; (5) characteristics of the physicians' lifestyle in the rural setting and its relation to career goals; (6) effective health care delivery in underserved areas; (7) management and related aspects in isolated practice settings; (8) development of interdisciplinary health are teams in primary care; and other topics.

Jamie Anderson, M.S., M.A.

MED 610

Teaching in Medicine
Fourth year medical students serve as small group preceptors to Year I-II medical students; clinical mentoring of physical examination and medical history taking skills. Limited to M.D. students.

Patty Charles, Dr.P.H., MPH

MED 661a

Advanced Clinical Experience in Underserved Areas
Students are assigned a primary preceptor(s) who in concert with the student designs the learning experience emphasizing an administrative and/or clinical care focus. The preceptor may be the CEO and/or the medical director of the site. Students are expected to actively participate in all activities/meetings/programs that occur during the elective. At the discretion of the preceptor and approval by the Course Coordinator, the student may be assigned a project to research and/or develop during the elective experience.

Jamie Anderson, M.S., M.A.

MED 661d

Spirituality in Medicine
Students explore the relationship between spiritual beliefs and health care decision making through taking a spiritual history and completing a project that meets elective goals.

Robbyn Tolles, M.A.T.