Year 1 Fall

MSC1001Y Human Anatomy

Dissection Labs: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., September 5 to December 7, 2023
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructors: John Tran and Anne Agur

Practicum: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., September 6 to December 6, 2023
Where: Grant’s Museum, Room 1150, Medical Science Building, St. George
Mode of delivery: In Person
Instructor: Shelley Wall

This course provides MScBMC students with a sound, integrated, problem-based course in gross anatomy and an introduction to creating explanatory images of anatomical structure. During 12 intensive weeks, students participate in full dissection of a cadaver. They also create original, clinically-based images suitable for medical textbooks. In addition to the cadaver lab, students have access to Grant’s Anatomy Museum in the Division of Anatomy, which houses the original dissections made for J.C.B. Grant’s An Atlas of Anatomy (1943), and represents a superb study and reference resource.

Prerequisites: None

MSC2001Y Visual Representation of Medical Knowledge

When: Mondays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., September 11 to December 4, 2023
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Michael Corrin

This full-year course emphasizes the theories of perspective, colour, design and storyboarding as they relate to textbook and journal illustration. This course follows a seminar format in which students have reading and applied assignments in cell and surgical illustration. It is expected that students will work independently. Group critiques occur regularly. The objectives are to enhance problem-solving, rendering and time-management skills.

Corequisite: MSC1001Y

MSC2003Y Biomedical Communications Technology

When: Mondays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., September 11 to December 4, 2023
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Nicholas Woolridge

This full-year course provides a foundation for the use of digital 3D media technologies in the communication of scientific research, and medical/health information. The course follows a two-module structure. The first module focuses on digital organic sculpting and the extraction of anatomical data from medical imaging for use in visualization. The second module focuses on digital 3D modelling and rendering and the creation of editorial-style visual media. In both cases instruction consists of lecture, demonstration, and in-class exercises used to communicate fundamental concepts and common workflows. Preparatory readings and training videos are provided to introduce and reinforce weekly topics of instruction. Students are expected to complete assignments outside of class time, submitting their work at various stages for review, evaluation, and feedback. Group and instructor critiques will occur regularly throughout the course.

Corequisite: MSC1001Y

Year 1 Winter

MSC2001Y Visual Representation of Medical Knowledge

When: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., January 9 to April 2, 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Michael Corrin

This is the second half of the year-long course. See description of course in Year 1 Fall.

MSC2003Y Biomedical Communications Technology (Second Module)

When: Mondays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., January 8 to April 1, 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Shehryar Saharan

This is the second half of the year-long course. See description of course in Year 1 Fall.

MSC2023H: Information Visualization 

When: Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., January 11 to April 4, 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Jodie Jenkinson

This course addresses the fundamental principles of information visualization, including a discussion of human visual perception, cognition, and approaches to graphic representation. The focus will be oriented around the visualization of information and problem solving within a variety of contexts. The course will be organized around 2 core themes: 1) Designing for a specific audience and 2) Designing for exploration and insight. This course will include weekly lectures/seminars, required readings, and student presentations. Practical application of course material will require students to develop visualizations that yield insight into complex biomedical subject matter and successfully communicate to a range of audiences. 

Prerequisites: MSC2001Y Exclusions: MSC2019H

Year 1 Summer

MSC2004H Research Methods

When: May to June 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Jodie Jenkinson

In this half-credit course, students design their Master’s Research Projects (MRPs), and develop and write in-depth project proposals. Through readings, lectures, class discussions and critiques, writing assignments, and oral presentations, students learn the principles of designing research projects and of preparing literature reviews, research proposals, ethics protocols, expository narratives, and research papers.

Prerequisites: MSC1001Y, MSC2001Y, MSC2003Y

MSC2009H Ethics and Professionalism in BMC

When: May to June 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: TBD

This seminar credit course (no mark) addresses professional issues such as how to establish a small business, ethics and fair practice, contracts and copyright, pricing, book keeping, etc. Students produce professional curriculum vitae and learn how to promote their work through the establishment of a small business and during full-time employment. Self promotion is stressed. The material is presented for information only with the objective of instilling a sense of pride and professionalism regarding the field of Biomedical Communications. Objectives of the course are to: understand the importance of professionalism in the field; be aware of sound business practice; be informed regarding contracts, pricing and copyright; understand basic bookkeeping as it pertains to the profession; be aware of employment strategies and the application process; be informed regarding plagiarism and artists rights.

Prerequisites: MSC1001Y, MSC2001Y, MSC2003Y

MSC2020H Visual Representation of BIoMOLECULAR Structure and Function

When: May - June 2024
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Derek Ng

This course explores the structure and function of biologically-relevant macromolecules and their visual representations. The main goal of this course is to equip you with the fundamental knowledge, language, and practical skills necessary to create accurate visual depictions of these biologically-important macromolecules and associated processes for different audiences. This 36-hour course comprises two components: lectures and practical labs. The lecture component focuses on teaching you the fundamental concepts in molecular structural biology that are relevant for the accurate visual depiction of macromolecules. These concepts will be presented in the context of both historical and contemporary molecular visualization best practices. The laboratory component will give you hands-on experience in acquiring, evaluating, exploring, and visualizing molecular data from a variety of sources through in-lab tutorials and assignments. Practical issues such as dealing with missing data, integrating data from multiple sources, and evaluating whether a dataset is suitable for a project will be addressed.

Prerequisites: MSC1001Y, MSC2001Y, MSC2003Y

Year 2 Fall

MSC2002H Sequential Medical Communication:
Demonstrative Evidence for the Courtroom

When: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., September 6 to November 29, 2023
Mode of Delivery: In-person
Instructor: Stephen Mader

This course focuses on relationships between content, medium and audience to visually clarify complex medical and scientific concepts for sequential storytelling in medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Relationships are examined through the design and creation of demonstrative evidence for the Canadian courtroom. A case-based approach simulates professional practice. Theories of visual knowledge building, information design, multimedia communication, learning/teaching, and cognitive psychology inform the design of medical legal illustrations and courtroom media. Co-design and collective visual problem solving skills are enhanced through collaborative development and critical analysis feedback critiques. Assignments focus on developing visualization techniques, mastering advanced colour theory, designing for knowledge translation, and rendering transformative visual explanations for illustrative evidence.

Prerequisites: MSC1001Y, MSC2001Y, MSC2003Y

MSC2012H Neuroanatomy for Visual Communication

Lectures: Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m., September 7 to November 30, 2023
Mode of Delivery: In Person
Instructor: Shelley Wall

Laboratories: Wednesdays, 2 to 5p.m., September 6 to December 6, 2023
Location: Grant’s Museum, Room 1150, Medical Science Building, St. George
Mode of Delivery: In person
TA: TBD

This course consists of lectures and an applied component. The lecture component is delivered by a member of the Division of Anatomy. Working with faculty members from BMC and Anatomy, the student is required to independently produce a series of original, conceptual medical illustrations suitable for a textbook targeted to medical students. The main objectives of the applied assignments are to enhance students’ knowledge base, problem-solving, presentation, time-management and rendering skills, while conforming to set criteria for textbook publication.

Prerequisite: MSC1001Y

Year 2 Winter

MSC2018H Visual Representation of Processes in Pathology

Lectures: January 10 to April 3, 2024
Mode of Delivery: TBD
Instructor: John Wong

Practicum: January 9 to April 2, 2024
Instructor: Shehryar Saharan

This course has a lecture/seminar component and an illustration component. Pathology lectures are delivered by faculty from the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. Topics include overviews of cell adaptation and injury, inflammation, immunology, cell repair, and neoplasia, and the histology and pathobiology of specific regions and organ systems. For the illustration component of the course, each student will produce an original, conceptual medical illustration demonstrating pathological change in a tissue over time. Students will also complete a series of graded preparatory studies. Faculty from Biomedical Communications and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology will provide guidance, feedback, and technical/content expertise.

Prerequisites: MSC1001Y, MSC2001Y, MSC2003Y