Going to Harcum

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
About Introduction to Medicine at Harcum College

Transportation

Harcum College is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia in its western suburbs. The easiest way to reach the campus from Philadelphia International Airport is via cab or train. Since the cost to Harcum is approximately $40 each way, this option may best be used when the fare can be shared with a classmate. Roundtrip train tickets from the airport to the campus cost about $10. As students get to know each other, they typically arrange airport transportation among themselves during subsequent weekends, either sharing a taxi or even sharing the cost of a rental car, if several travel from the airport.

It is strongly recommended that you make travel plans only for the first weekend, not booking any additional flights in advance. The small class size allows for flexibility in each weekend’s schedule so students and instructors may make adjustments to the standard eight-weekend schedule.

Accommodations

Students stay in the dorm rooms on campus at Harcum College. A section of one of the dorms has been upgraded especially for ITM students. Linens are provided by the College, but students are also welcome to bring their own and keep them in the room for the next weekend of class. The on-campus location allows students to easily visit the library where they may access materials as well as find a quiet study spot. Wireless internet access is available in the dorm rooms as well as in the classroom.

Meals

The cafeteria at Harcum College students three meals per day while they are on campus. Students plan for dinner among themselves, at their own expense, depending on their study regimens. There are also numerous dining options nearby at all price ranges, and staff members from Harcum or Oceania University are happy to make recommendations.

Faculty

In order to best present the problem-based learning curriculum, two skilled physicians comprise the Introduction to Medicine faculty.

Dr. Andrew Miller has an active internal medicine practice and is also a hospitalist at a local teaching hospital affiliated with Jefferson Medical College/Thomas Jefferson University. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. In addition, he completed his residency at UCLA and earned a Master of Public Health degree from UC-Berkeley. Dr. Miller presents and facilitates the curriculum’s clinical material.

Dr. Robert Cohn is a retired professor from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. As both a clinician and laboratory scientist, he specialized in metabolic disease and its related basic sciences, namely biochemistry. He earned his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and attended the Yale University School of Medicine. Internship, residency and fellowship training was completed at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and he was a member of the Penn faculty for nearly 30 years. Dr. Cohn has been a part-time instructor at Harcum since his retirement from Penn and teaches/facilitates the basic science material in the curriculum.

Schedule

Introduction to Medicine students typically arrive on Thursday evening, some very late, following a full day of work. Classes are held all day Friday and Saturday, as well as a half-day on Sunday. Friday and part of Saturday are spent on the clinical aspects of that week’s case, while the rest of Saturday and Sunday are spent discussing the associated basic sciences. Please note that small classes allow for some flexibility in scheduling. Again, it is highly recommended that students only make travel plans for the first weekend to campus, until they and the and instructors finalize the schedule that accommodates the group the best.

Computer Needs, Books and other Course Materials

Students do not need a laptop computer in order to take this course. A good desktop system that has sufficient speed and memory to do research and access the curriculum from home will suffice. There are typically two or three students during each class that always travel with their laptops. As long as there is at least one in class during each session, should there be a question that needs researching, then class will progress smoothly. In addition to research, Internet access is required to download a weekly case and learning objectives from www.medintro.org.

Recommended textbooks are typically available at the Harcum bookstore. The faculty sees the issue of textbooks as an evolutionary process. In the past, students have realized during the first weekend in class, that books they already have may be sufficient, especially during the introductory course. While texts are sometimes found more economically from online suppliers, it is suggested that you attend the first weekend session before making decisions on expensive texts.

All students should have received the course syllabus soon after acceptance into the program. Students that have not received such documents should contact the U.S. Student Affairs Coordinator. Sometimes there are minor updates to a syllabus just before a new term begins. If this is the case, students are either emailed the new syllabus before class begins or receive it the first day of class.

Tuition

All course tuition is due to Harcum College prior to the first day of class. Invoices are sent to each student. If a student has enrolled in the Introduction to Medicine course far enough in advance, he/she may set up a payment plan, which must be approved by Vincent Gaitley, Dean, School of Continuing Studies at Harcum College. Tuition may be paid by personal check, Visa or MasterCard.