Mini Med School looks for students

Mini Med School appeals to a broad range of people interested in health issues. (Betsy Chambers photo)

It’s not called Mini Med School because it graduates tiny doctors or that the building is particularly small. It’s called Mini Med School because it gives people a little taste of what real med students are learning and the kind of research going on at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine.

Offered as a pilot project last year, Mini Med School is back as a full-fledged program. Running from October 11 to November 15, it will take place over six Thursday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building.

“It went over so well last year that we knew we’d have to bring it back,” says Douglas Sinclair, Associate Dean of Continuing Medical Education with Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine.

“We’ve got a mandate of social accountability. And this seems like such a practical way of giving back to our community. There’s so much health information out there and it’s so hard to interpret it all.”

Mini Med School covers a range of topics, including street drugs, adolescent mental health, menopause, premature babies and minimally invasive surgeries.

Lectures, two each session, are delivered by some of Dalhousie’s top medical experts. Last year, the lectures attracted a broad range of people, from undergraduate students contemplating applying to med school to seniors in the community “with real health information needs,” says Dr. Sinclair. A medical or science background is not required, only a keen interest in health issues. There are no homework assignments or exams.

Registration is now being accepted for Mini Med School. Applicants can apply by fax, email, mail or on the phone with your credit card handy. The cost is $125, or $100 for students and seniors. For more information, visit the Mini Med School web site.