ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION
Integrative Biosciences Department
Oregon Health & Science University

The Department of Integrative Biosciences carries a major teaching load and is responsible for the anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology instruction for first and second year dental students.

The aim of our teaching program is to provide an excellent foundation in basic information, with topics and emphasis directed at the clinical aspects of dental education. This teaching strategy has been well received by our students, who have frequently selected some member of the department for an "outstanding instructor" award

A major goal for the past several years has been to increase clinical correlations and problem-based-learning (PBL) in all our courses. The course instructors also strive to instill the commitment to a lifetime of learning in our students, to enable them to meet the evolving health needs of all segments of society.

The goal of integration between basic science and clinical application includes an emphasis on biological concepts rather than memorized facts, the use of problem-based-learning, and the use of the scientific approach in solving clinical problems. This goal corresponds to the recommendations of the recent report by the Institute of Medicine for an interactive curriculum with problem-oriented learning that emphasizes skills and competencies. We now have some type of clinical case studies and/or PBL in almost all of our courses.

We have begun to incorporate computer-enhanced instruction using cd-rom material into our courses and are developing Web-based modules as an additional resource for students.

In addition to teaching the department’s core courses, faculty members participate in a number other courses. They teach elective courses for the third and fourth year dental students, contribute lectures for courses in other departments of the dental school, give optional review sessions, contribute to the core courses for the dental graduate-resident students, give lectures in the core curricula of the Ph.D. graduate training programs, and supervise the research of graduate and postdoctoral students in the Integrative Biosciences Department.

Department Core Courses (and course directors)

IB701           Biochemistry and Physiology of Oral Health and Disease (Dr. King)
AN711         Clinical Anatomy (Dr. Benninger)
AN712         Head and Neck Anatomy (Dr. Benninger)
AN713         General Histology (Dr. Danilchik)
AN715         Oral Histology and Development (Dr. Kent)
OPTH723     Infectious Disease and Inflammation (Dr. Maier)
OPTH725     Caries (Dr. Maier)
MB721         Microbiology and immunology (Dr. Maier)
MB722         Pathogenic and Oral Microbiology (Dr. Maier)
PHC721       Pharmacodynamics (Dr. Smith)