Medical Interventions Course Description
In the Medical Interventions course, students will investigate the variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. A “How-To” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body, the course will explore how to prevent and fight infection, how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. Through these scenarios, students will be exposed to the wide range of interventions related to Immunology, Surgery, Genetics, Pharmacology, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics. Each family case scenario will introduce multiple types of interventions and will reinforce concepts learned in the previous two courses, as well as present new content. Interventions may range from simple diagnostic tests to treatment of complex diseases and disorders. These interventions will be showcased across the generations of the family and will provide a look at the past, present and future of biomedical science. Lifestyle choices and preventive measures are emphasized throughout the course as well as the important role scientific thinking and engineering design play in the development of interventions of the future.
The following is a summary of the units of study that are included in the PLTW MI course.
Unit One – How to Fight Infection
In this unit students are introduced to Sue Smith, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Sue is a college freshman who is presenting symptoms of an unknown infectious disease which students eventually identify as bacterial meningitis. Sue survives the infection but is left with hearing impairment. Through this case students will explore the diagnostic process used to identify an unknown infection, the use of antibiotics as a treatment, how bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, how hearing impairment is assessed and treated, and how vaccinations are developed and used to prevent infection.
Unit Two – How to Screen What is in Your Genes
In this unit students are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Sue’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are very excited to find out they are expecting a new baby. Because the couple is in their early 40s, the doctor has suggested genetic screening and testing. Through this case students will explore how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, the value of good prenatal care, and the future of genetic technology.
Unit Three – How to Conquer Cancer
In this unit students are introduced to Mike Smith, the sixteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Mike is diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that often affects teenagers. Mike’s treatments put him into remission; however, in order to remove all of the cancerous tissue, he had to have most of his arm amputated. Mike now needs a prosthesis. Through this case students will explore the diagnostic process used to determine the presence of cancerous cells, the risk factors and prevention of cancer, rehabilitation after disease or injury, and the design process for new medications, prosthetics, and nanotechnology.
Unit Four – How to Prevail When Organs Fail
In this unit students are introduced to Mrs. Jones, the forty-four-year-old sister of Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Jones has been struggling with Type 1 Diabetes for twenty years. Over the years, Mrs. Jones did not take good care of herself or properly control her diabetes. She eventually began using an insulin pump and changed her lifestyle to regulate her blood sugar levels, but the damage had already been done. Mrs. Jones is now dealing with end stage renal failure and needs a kidney transplant. Through this case students will explore protein production, blood sugar regulation, dialysis, organ donation and transplantation, and non-invasive surgery techniques. In addition students will create a bionic human.
Unit One – How to Fight Infection
In this unit students are introduced to Sue Smith, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Sue is a college freshman who is presenting symptoms of an unknown infectious disease which students eventually identify as bacterial meningitis. Sue survives the infection but is left with hearing impairment. Through this case students will explore the diagnostic process used to identify an unknown infection, the use of antibiotics as a treatment, how bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, how hearing impairment is assessed and treated, and how vaccinations are developed and used to prevent infection.
Unit Two – How to Screen What is in Your Genes
In this unit students are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Sue’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are very excited to find out they are expecting a new baby. Because the couple is in their early 40s, the doctor has suggested genetic screening and testing. Through this case students will explore how to screen and evaluate the code in our DNA, the value of good prenatal care, and the future of genetic technology.
Unit Three – How to Conquer Cancer
In this unit students are introduced to Mike Smith, the sixteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Mike is diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that often affects teenagers. Mike’s treatments put him into remission; however, in order to remove all of the cancerous tissue, he had to have most of his arm amputated. Mike now needs a prosthesis. Through this case students will explore the diagnostic process used to determine the presence of cancerous cells, the risk factors and prevention of cancer, rehabilitation after disease or injury, and the design process for new medications, prosthetics, and nanotechnology.
Unit Four – How to Prevail When Organs Fail
In this unit students are introduced to Mrs. Jones, the forty-four-year-old sister of Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Jones has been struggling with Type 1 Diabetes for twenty years. Over the years, Mrs. Jones did not take good care of herself or properly control her diabetes. She eventually began using an insulin pump and changed her lifestyle to regulate her blood sugar levels, but the damage had already been done. Mrs. Jones is now dealing with end stage renal failure and needs a kidney transplant. Through this case students will explore protein production, blood sugar regulation, dialysis, organ donation and transplantation, and non-invasive surgery techniques. In addition students will create a bionic human.
Non-Discrimination Statement:
The Chapel Hill – Carrboro Board of Education, therefore the Career and Technical Education Department, prohibits discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on protected classifications that include, but are not limited to, the following: race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, class, socioeconomics, ethnicity, sexual orientation, cognitive/physical ability, diverse language fluency, religion, status as an English Language Learner, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, immigration status, genetic makeup, or any classification or characteristic protected by state or federal law or regulation, or by this policy. The Board further prohibits discrimination against a person perceived to have any of the above characteristics or against a person for associating with someone protected by this policy. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination, harassment, and/or Title 9 complaint may call the Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Brandy Reeves Chief of Staff and School Leadership [email protected]
Declaración de no discriminación:
La Consejo de Administración de Chapel Hill y Carrboro, por lo tanto, el Departamento de Educación Técnica y Profesional, prohíbe la discriminación, acoso o intimidación basado en clasificaciones protegidas que incluyen, pero no se limitan a, lo siguiente: raza, credo, color, nacionalidad, género, identidad de género, clase, clase socioeconómica, origen étnico, orientación sexual, capacidad cognitiva / física, fluidez lingüística diversa, religión, aprendiz del idioma inglés, estado civil, embarazo, paternidad, estado migratorio, composición genética o cualquier clasificación o característica protegida por la ley o regulación estatal o federal, o por esta política. El Consejo también prohíbe la discriminación contra una persona que se percibe que tiene cualquiera de las características anteriores o contra una persona por asociarse con alguien protegido por esta política. Las personas que deseen presentar una queja por discriminación, acoso y/o Título 9 pueden llamar al Coordinador de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles: Brandy Reeves, Jefe de personal y liderazgo escolar, al [email protected]
The Chapel Hill – Carrboro Board of Education, therefore the Career and Technical Education Department, prohibits discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on protected classifications that include, but are not limited to, the following: race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, class, socioeconomics, ethnicity, sexual orientation, cognitive/physical ability, diverse language fluency, religion, status as an English Language Learner, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, immigration status, genetic makeup, or any classification or characteristic protected by state or federal law or regulation, or by this policy. The Board further prohibits discrimination against a person perceived to have any of the above characteristics or against a person for associating with someone protected by this policy. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination, harassment, and/or Title 9 complaint may call the Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Brandy Reeves Chief of Staff and School Leadership [email protected]
Declaración de no discriminación:
La Consejo de Administración de Chapel Hill y Carrboro, por lo tanto, el Departamento de Educación Técnica y Profesional, prohíbe la discriminación, acoso o intimidación basado en clasificaciones protegidas que incluyen, pero no se limitan a, lo siguiente: raza, credo, color, nacionalidad, género, identidad de género, clase, clase socioeconómica, origen étnico, orientación sexual, capacidad cognitiva / física, fluidez lingüística diversa, religión, aprendiz del idioma inglés, estado civil, embarazo, paternidad, estado migratorio, composición genética o cualquier clasificación o característica protegida por la ley o regulación estatal o federal, o por esta política. El Consejo también prohíbe la discriminación contra una persona que se percibe que tiene cualquiera de las características anteriores o contra una persona por asociarse con alguien protegido por esta política. Las personas que deseen presentar una queja por discriminación, acoso y/o Título 9 pueden llamar al Coordinador de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles: Brandy Reeves, Jefe de personal y liderazgo escolar, al [email protected]