News & Events

The School of Medicine Graduates Its Largest Mini Med School Class Ever

Thursday, October 02, 2008

It was a bittersweet night October 1, 2008 when participants graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine's eighth annual Mini Med School. While the "students" were thrilled to be presented with certificates for completing the program by Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, it was difficult to say goodbye. "I wish we had five more weeks," said one enthusiastic participant.

Topics this year included autism, genetics, celiac disease, violence intervention & anger management, brain disorders and colds & flu. On the final evening, participants were treated to a nutrition and fitness presentation from best-selling author Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine. Dr. Peeke, who is also chief medical consultant on Nutrition and Fitness for the Discovery Health Channel, showed clips from her Discovery special Fit to Live, which is based on her book of the same name. She had the audience in stitches with her stories about the differences between how men and women approach exercise.

This year's Mini Med School was the most successful ever, with nearly 300 students attending each week. Offered as a public service by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Mini-Med School is a series of tuition-free classes designed to help Baltimore residents improve their health and well being. Mini-Med School lectures are presented by faculty physicians and are open to everyone. The sessions are designed to be casual, fun and informative presentations on health care issues that are important to the community. The majority of attendees came from West Baltimore neighborhoods near the School of Medicine, but some came from as far away as Harford and Cecil counties. They ranged in age from 8 to 80.

Plans are already underway for next year's Mini Med School, which will start in September 2009. Visit the Mini Med website next spring for more information.