Duke University School of Medicine - Aesculapian Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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■ T The increasing importance of biochemistry in the training oi the medical student may be attributed to the tremendous progress being made in biochemical re- search. Medicine is looking more and more to bio- chemistry lor the understanding of disease processes, for new diagnostic methods and for a more rational ap- proach to therapy. The biochemistry course in the freshman year introduces the student to the chemistry of the human body. The first phase of the course is devoted to a survey of the chemistry of the materials fundamental to all life: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and to the nature of enzymatic action. This is followed by study of those events in intermediary metabolism common to the life of all mammalian cells. The special metabolism of muscle, kidney, bone, erythrocytes, liver, connective tissue, and the chemical aspects of digestion, respiration, electrolyte, acid-base and fluid balance are presented with relation to the study of the physiology of these organs, so as to correlate the two disciplines. Philip Handler, Ph.D. Chairman Department of BIOCHEMISTRY Now which way does the stoc (co turn? ' Shafo, Rattle, and Roll sixteen

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study parts oi the living body as revealed by the X-ray and fluroscope as well as to begin to understand the advantages and limitations of this equipment. Later in the year, the anatomy of the nervous system is pre- sented with the use of brain dissections and slides. Here the clinical application of neurology is stressed. In all of the instruction, teaching is designed to be as informal and as individual as possible. For the more advanced student and lor review, the Department oi Anatomy offers elective courses. Among these are re- views of general, surgical and orthopaedic anatomy, brain modeling, experimental anatomy, special neuro- anatomy, and a special interdisciplinary seminar in the physiological and anatomical bases of behavior. First row, kit to right: Everett, Hetherington, Markee ( hairn McFalls, Gabor, Peele, Moses, Lacy. Not pictured: Becker, Goree. Duke. Second w: Venetta, Dabbert, Agnelo, fifteen

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First row, left to right: Green, Kamin, Kirshner, Handler (Chairman), Wakil, Rosette, Hill. Second row: Wyngaarden, Guild, Bernheim, Wheat, McCarty. Davidsoi, Tanford. Missing: Lynn, Thiers. Instruction is conducted in small groups of students by members of the staff. These small groups are designed to enable the student to discuss with the instructor material from the lectures and laboratories. In the lab- oratory the student handles and manipulates those basic- substances and functions necessary for life. Instead of regular laboratory exercises the student, if qualified, may pursue original research within the field of bio- chemistry. In addition to being quite active in the field of biochemical research, the department also presents special seminars on the chemistry of proteins and en- zymes, intermediary metabolism, nutrition and bio- chemistry of disease as well as participating in the new- Research Training Program, wherein the medical stu- dent may get advanced training for research without having to leave school or finishing behind his class. seventeen