The
biomedical sciences encompass a wide range of disciplines, many of which
require literacy and proficiency in the basic principles of chemistry, physics,
and mathematics for understanding and exploring the biological and
physiological processes that underlie human health and disease.
Course work utilizing these principles will explore real-life scenarios
covering forensics, clinical care, disease outbreaks, biomedical innovations,
physiology and anatomy, pharmacology, and the diagnosis of genetic diseases, to
name a few. Students will also have the opportunity for hands-on
participation in companion laboratory experiments that are intended to provide
a solid foundation for understanding how scientific inquiry based on sound
laboratory practices is conducted. Collectively, both coursework and
laboratory exercises will serve to stimulate the students interest in a health
sciences career and provide guidance for pursuing the career path they find
most interesting. The pathway also offers students the unique opportunity
to prepare for their future educational pursuits and successful entry into the
workplace by their interaction with professional guest speakers from local
hospitals and post-graduate education institutions, field trips, and the
potential for healthcare-related internships with community partners.
Internships:
Stormont
Vail: nursing assistants
Stormont
Vail: laboratory technician
Recommended courses before coming to TCALC:
- Biology/Honors Biology
- Chemistry/Honors Chemistry
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
Course Sequence at TCALC:
|
Semester
|
Courses
|
|
1
|
Principles of Biomedical Science #5810 (1.0) &
Medical Terms #5807 (.5)
|
|
2
|
Human Body Systems #5811 (1.0) & Intro to Health
Care #5625 (.5)
|
|
3
|
Biotechnical Engineering #5636 (1.0) & Biomedical
Workplace Experience #7502 (.5)
|
|
4
|
Biomedical Innovation #5812 (1.0) & Biomedical
Workplace Experience #7502 (.5)
|
Students
who successfully complete the Human Body System and Biotechnical Engineering
pathway courses and maintain a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA receive Washburn
University credit awards for BI 100 and BI 101 (Introductory Biology course and
laboratory credit). This does not apply for declared Biology majors,
however.
Students
who successfully complete the Human Body System and Biotechnical Engineering
pathway courses and maintain a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA receive Washburn
University credit awards for BI 100 and BI 101 (Introductory Biology course and
laboratory credit). This does not apply for declared Biology majors,
however.
The
supporting CTSO for this pathway is HOSA - Future Health Professionals
Our
instructor for the Biomedical pathway is Dr. Mark Harpster. Dr. Harpster
received his B.A. in Biology from the University of Oregon and a PhD in
Genetics from the University of California, Berkeley. Following
post-doctoral studies in Germany, he worked in the biotechnology industry
in Oakland, CA for several years. He then moved to the University of
Wyoming where he worked for the USDA studying zoonotic diseases and the
Chemical Engineering Department developing spectroscopic-based assays for
biomarker detection. Following his retirement, he moved to Topeka and is
now a licensed STEM instructor for the biomedical pathway at TCALC.