The fast-approaching due date to submit our Intent to Register (ITR) applications, coupled with the extraordinary disruptions to our university schedules, has overwhelmed many of us with stress and feelings of uncertainty. 

Many 1st and 2nd year Medical Sciences students have found themselves in a state of limbo with the cancellation of all campus events, including the much-anticipated ITR information sessions. Fortunately, online Zoom sessions (both grouped and individual appointments) are being hosted by BMSUE coordinator Kathy Boon. You can access these sessions through the “BMSUE - Virtual Appointment and ITR group session” OWL site. 

To further help those seeking insight towards all basic modules offered in Medical Sciences, The Current has teamed up with upper year students in their own respective modules who have kindly chosen to share their experiences. 

Biochemistry by Rebecca Lau

Curious about the molecular underpinnings of genes, proteins, and all things cellular? Interested in biochemistry but with a translational focus on cancer? Then I highly recommend the interdisciplinary BMSc module of Biochemistry (and Cancer Biology)! This module is designed to help students establish strong foundations in biochemistry while exposing students to a large diversity of relevant areas in cancer such as histology, pharmacology, and immunology. Some second-year courses that will prepare students pursuing this stream include Biochemistry 2280A, Microbiology 2500A/B, and Methods 2290A/B. These courses that emphasize class presentations, group projects, and scientific writing will be instrumental in upper year biochemistry courses such as Biochemistry 3381A and labs (i.e. Immunology 3620G, Biochemistry 3380G).

Epidemiology and Biostatistics by Dorisa Meng

Let me answer your first question: no, we do not study skin. Now all jokes aside, in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics module we use statistical principles to investigate determinants of health and patterns of disease, which has become especially important during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, outside of infectious disease epidemiology, our module is also focused on chronic non-communicable diseases, health economics, and public policy. The courses offered by our department help students learn theoretical knowledge and develop transferable skills important for a future career, especially in pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries that extensively use statistical programming languages such as SAS, Stata, and R. Our module’s style of content and assessment (e.g. assignments, short answer exams, guest lectures) is most accurately embodied by Epidemiology 2200. The content from Biostatistics 2244 is also fundamental, but its course structure is ironically not a very representative sample. Class sizes range from 15 students up to 40, and oftentimes our classes are shared with graduate students. Our module might appear small, but we are a very tight-knit family. If you are someone who is passionate about population health, I have confidence at the 5% significance level that you will enjoy this module!

Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) by Michelle Ma

By its namesake, IMS is a module that allows you to study multiple basic medical science disciplines offered by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The freedom in course selection is probably the main advantage because you are not restricted to taking courses from only one module. For example, if you can’t decide between the pharmacology and pathology modules, you can simply take both as courses in IMS. If you learn that you don’t prefer a certain modular course, you have the flexibility to discontinue in that discipline in the following semesters/year. Depending on the modular courses you choose, they can be memorization-heavy or more collaborative-based. IMS is the largest module in medical sciences and depending on which classes you choose, they can be upwards of 300-400 students. However, the IMS lab course is split into smaller sections and provides a good opportunity to be more familiar with other students and faculty. Overall, this module allows you to tailor the courses to your needs. 3rd year courses can be chosen based on interest, what you excelled at most in 2nd year, and prerequisites for professional schools. You also have more space to take some interesting electives, a freedom that is not always available in other modules.

Medical Biophysics by the Biophysics Network of Students (BONeS)

Medical Biophysics is a diverse discipline that integrates the fields of physics and computational modeling for medical applications. Study topics include cardiovascular biophysics, bone and artificial joint biomechanics, and cancer biology, which tackle the understanding and treatment of heart and blood circulation diseases, skeletal and joint diseases, as well as cancer processes and treatment. Our department offers a wide range of courses that allow you to develop the skills for tackling research concepts such as medical imaging, biomechanics, and hemodynamics. You will feel a close sense of community since the undergraduate class sizes range from 12-30 students, giving students more time with graduate teaching assistants and professors. There are many faculties within the department who are leading researchers in innovative fields, allowing students to have numerous choices for their 3rd-year research project that lasts 8 weeks and thesis in the 4th year. If you have a love for physics, computer sciences, engineering, biology, chemistry, health sciences, mathematics, or a related field, Medical Biophysics could be for you! Some of the most challenging health questions of our time can be clarified by medical biophysics, and we encourage you to explore our program and see how it can help you start in a rewarding career.

Medical Cell Biology by Shehan Perera
Medical Cell Biology (MCB) is an incredibly diverse module that branches into many specialized areas of medicine, research, and industry. The goal is to understand how cellular events and structures accumulate into the broad range of physiologies and pathologies that we observe in the population. 3rd-year courses build upon the foundations established in 2nd year courses such as Cell Biology 2382, Genetics 2581, and Anatomy 2200. As such, Western offers many 3rd year cell biology courses, some of the best including Histology 3309, Advanced Cell Biology 3316, and Cell Physiology 3140. 3rd year classes are delivered in both face-to-face and online formats, which allows flexibility around students’ learning preferences. Classes are mid-sized and have high TA-to-student ratio, allowing the module’s community to be tight-knit and supportive. In fact, Medical Cell Biology is more relevant today than ever before thanks to the booming biotechnology industry. Research demand is also increasing in order to better understand cellular functions for both medical and industrial applications. If you want to be part of an ever growing and exciting field, then this is for you!

Microbiology & Immunology by Rudra Pandya

Microbiology & Immunology is a both memorization and lab-heavy module that dives deep into the world of bacteria, viruses and the human immune system. In the medical perspective, this subject gives most contribution to the development of vaccines, which is ever more relevant with the current COVID-19 pandemic. 2nd year courses that best reflect the module’s nature are MicroImm 2500, Cell Biology 2382 & Biochemistry 2280. Exams are mostly multiple choice with a few written questions, mainly testing recall of facts and details. Lab courses give an in-depth experience of what it is like to work in a real lab, including weekly lab reports. This is also a fairly tight knit module, although not as small as one might think since class sizes range from 100 to >200. If you have strong time management skills and know your passion truly lies in these kinds of topics, you'll undoubtedly find this module enjoyable! It is rewarding in terms of knowledge and skills gained, while requiring resilience and hardwork.

Microbiology & Immunology with Pathology (MIP) by Ryan Ho

MIP has lots of life-applicable knowledge, especially regarding the human-disease relationship. From lecture courses, I learn how my body can deal with different health challenges on a level that the average person wouldn’t. I can also recognize the variety of diseases that hinder our health. On a personal level, these two aspects have helped me optimize my lifestyle healthily and thrive to the best of my ability. Academically, it’s been a constant grind to perform well – little breaks. Thus, taking the time in 2nd year to develop your memory and understanding is crucial. Although the lab components are rigorous, you learn lots. Biochemistry 2280 and Cell Biology 2382 are the most similar in terms of format and structure of the lectures, whereas content-wise, obviously MicroImm 2500. The social culture of the module is also quite positive. In 3rd year, your peer-pool is more niche with everyone in your classes appreciating something about the stuff you’re learning alongside you. There is also a much higher emphasis on collaborating, whether that be for a project or study-note sharing. In MIP specifically, when we struggle, we do it together!

One Health by Dani Kilani

The One Health module is the first of its kind in Canada, centering on the One Health approach which is a methodology for developing health solutions to issues such as COVID-19, climate change or antimicrobial resistance. One Health focuses on the interconnections between human, animal and environmental health as well as stakeholder involvement. The small size of the module makes for a collaborative culture and helps develop lasting friendships with peers. Some courses retain the standard multiple choice format, such as Pathology 3500, while other courses in the One Health module, such as One Health 3300 and 3600, are not easily comparable to 2nd year medical science courses. Overall, we are given the opportunity to explore our interests and apply our learning through numerous written and presentation-based projects, and fewer multiple choice exams. The module is quite unique among medical science modules in terms of both evaluation and its focus on the bigger picture view of health.

Pathology by Fadi Bahodi

Pathology is an incredibly interesting, yet challenging, module that goes over diseases in the human body, with a comprehensive overview of how the body works and an anatomical perspective that I believe is very beneficial should you decide to follow medicine or research in the future. The core course, pathology 3500, is content dense, yet still digestible. It resembles Cell Biology 2382 in terms of how straightforward the content is, but just much more dense. If I could give one word of advice – stay on top of things consistently, even more so than 2nd year, as I had to learn the hard way that cramming for some of the pathology courses doesn’t turn out the greatest! Overall, I still think I made the right choice, but I just wish I used the professors to their full potential and really delved into the content more. It’s really easy to get lost in the chaos that is 3rd year and forget how cool the stuff you are learning really is.

Physiology & Pharmacology by Alex Lee

Compared to say biochemistry or microbiology for example, physiology and pharmacology deal with the bigger picture behind the science of the human body. You will learn about the various functions of organs and their relationships to our health. You will also become familiar with the functions and mechanisms of drugs, which is perhaps the most common form of medical treatment. Mostly, the contents you learn are similar to those from Physiology 2130 and Pharmacology 2060 (obviously). However, there are opportunities to go microscopic and study molecular mechanisms, much like in Cell Biology 2382. If you are a visual learner who likes to associate facts with colorful diagrams, this module may suit your style since there are lots to memorize! As class sizes tend to be large, most examinations are multiple choice-based, but occasionally short answers too. Thankfully, the course instructors are very organized and enthusiastic about teaching. They are definitely some of the coolest professors in the faculty, helping you put everything together into the proper medical context, which is very motivating for your education!