Precision Medicine
Message from the Director
John Meurer, MD, MBA
Professor of Pediatrics and Community Health; Director of the Institute for Health & Equity
jmeurer@mcw.edu
(414) 955-8029
The MCW Institute for Health & Equity invites clinicians to apply by April 1, 2021 for early admission or by July 1 to enroll in the first formal Precision Medicine (PM) Education program in Wisconsin with classes beginning in August 2021. The PM Education program will train clinicians to better diagnose, treat and prevent disease by accounting for individual variation in genes, environment and lifestyle. This program aims to impact physician and other clinician practices and their access to and use of PM services. PM education will also enhance the understanding of participating clinicians in precision public health which uses new technologies to improve public health policy and practice. Contact program coordinator Kellie LeGrave (klegrave@mcw.edu) or me (jmeurer@mcw.edu) to answer your questions and to discuss how the program might meet with professional development needs.
Precision Medicine
Admissions
Deadlines: April 1, 2021 for early admission; July 1, 2021 for enrollment in August 2021 courses
Requirements: Must be licensed clinician as a physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, pharmacist, or genetic counselor.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions
Precision Medicine Master’s Degree & Certificate Programs
The PM MS degree is comprised of 30 credits drawn from 3 required and 7 elective courses. The PM Certificate is comprised of 12 credits drawn from 1 required and 3 elective courses.
Required for MS degree
Introduction to Precision Medicine (Fall) 3 credits
Introduction to Precision Medicine offers 10 applied learning sessions led by directors of PM Education courses. Students initiate a professional development plan and write and present reports explaining PM concepts, demonstrating research in practice, and judging the validity of PM information.
*Prerequisites: None; Introduction to Precision Medicine is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Precision Medicine Research Plan (Summer) 3 credits
This course requires students to develop a PM research question, to perform a literature review and analysis of the topic, and to create a research plan for IRB submission, if needed. The work is guided by a primary mentor and reviewed by 2 faculty advisors.
*Prerequisites: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program. Students must be enrolled in the MS degree program to enroll in the PM Research Plan course. They should complete most if not all of the 7 elective 3-credit PM courses before enrolling in this course.
Precision Medicine Master’s Thesis (Summer) 3 credits
This course requires students to implement a research plan and to write a manuscript discussing the results. The publishable work is guided by a primary mentor and reviewed by 2 faculty advisors.
Prerequisites: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program. Students should complete most if not all of the 7 elective 3-credit PM courses before enrolling in this final thesis course. Original observational studies and especially clinical trials may need to be conducted before enrolling in this course due to time constraints. Review papers and commentaries can be written during this course.
Electives
Genetic Counseling for Precision Medicine (Fall) 3 credits
In this course students will be introduced to the practice of genetic counseling (GC). Students will become familiar with the different elements of the GC process and begin to develop basic skills, such as pedigree analysis, risk assessment and contracting. They also will begin to develop oral and written communication skills to explain complex genetic topics in a manner that is appropriately tailored to various audiences. There will be 3 project assessments which will allow students to demonstrate comprehension and application of key GC concepts.
*Prerequisites: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Recommended: Students will need a strong understanding of genetics principals and technology. Although not required as a prerequisite, it may be helpful for students to first complete the courses Medical Genetics, Undiagnosed and Rare Disease and Genomic Diagnostic Tests which will provide a greater context for the material covered in this course.
Bioethics in Precision Medicine (Fall) 3 credits
This course will explore the historical, philosophical, rhetorical, and ethical foundations of precision medicine and analyze the bioethical issues raised by this new medical paradigm as they manifest in a variety of clinical, biomedical, and health policy contexts.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Biomedical Informatics and Clinical Informatics and Data Science (Fall) 3 credits
Cancer Precision Medicine (Fall) 3 credits
This course provides an overview of the molecular basis of cancer, the role of germline and somatic alterations in the development and progression of cancer and the various precision assay methodologies utilized in cancer diagnosis, prognostication and treatment.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Medical Genetics, Undiagnosed, and Rare Diseases (Fall) 3 credits
This course allows students to examine the application of genomics to core clinical systems and to apply that knowledge to personalized management of patients. Experts in their respective fields will guest lecture in several sessions.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Precision Public Health (Spring) 3 credits
This course uses readings, 16 lectures and discussions, 2 essays and presentations, and an individual develop plan for learners to explain and connect concepts, understand publications, justify positions, and formulate ideas about the new field. PPH is delivering the right intervention at the right time every time to the right population.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Pharmacogenomics (Spring) 3 credits
This course will give participants a broad perspective on the emergence of clinical and applied pharmacogenomics (PGx) and provide them with insight into its growing importance in major clinical therapeutic areas. Participants will gain an understanding of how genetic differences between individuals can impact the prescription and outcomes of drug therapy. The course will also help participants to understand how individualization of drug therapy based on a person’s genetic makeup can optimize the effectiveness of medications while reducing adverse effects.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (Spring) 3 credits
This course discusses the principles of laboratory genetics and genomics and its application in identifying genetic causations for disease.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
Epigenomics (Spring) 3 credits
This course is designed to introduce students to Epigenetics and Epigenomics, an important foundation of modern medicine. Epigenomics refers to the inheritance of traits independent of the coding capacity of the DNA and is highly influenced by the environment. In this course, students will discuss molecular mechanisms underlying epigenetic events, the tools for the design and execution of research in this discipline, how to generate and analyze epigenomic data, and the application of Epigenomics to diagnostics, prognostics, and treatments.
*Prerequisite: Introduction to PM is a prerequisite for all other courses in the PM Ed program.
*Recommended: Biomedical and Clinical Informatics and Data Science, Laboratory Genetics and Genomics
Tuition and Fees
If you have questions regarding tuition or your account, please contact the Office of Student Accounts, at (414) 955-8172 or mcwtuition@mcw.edu. Please refer to the All Student Handbook (PDF) for tuition payment policies and information.
- Tuition and Fees Schedule(PDF)
- View your Tuition Statement (login required)
Masters, Certificate & Non-Degree Students
Students seeking financial aid for degree programs, please visit the Financial Aid Office website.
Current MCW Employees
Tuition Course Approval Form - Human Resources (PDF)
Late Fees
There will be a $100 late registration fee for anyone not completing registration by the date indicated on the schedule each semester.
There is also a $250 late payment fee for tuition not paid on time according to the Tuition Payments policy in the All Student Handbook PDF).
Late payment fee is in addition to any late registration fee.
Financial Aid Questions
For additional information about financial aid, contact the Financial Aid office.
(414) 955-8208 | (414) 955-0119 (fax)
finaid@mcw.edu
Academic and Student Resources
Writing Tools & Tutorials
Grammar 101
West LA College Writing Website
Commonly Confused Words
Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words
Referencing
Monash University Resources:Citing and Referencing
APA Resources:APA Style Guidelines, Purdue OWL Resource for APA
MLA Resources:Cornell University Library MLA Resource, Washington State University MLA Resource
MCW Resources
Brightspace
Brightspace is the university-wide learning management system that allows for students and faculty to connect online.
Academic Calendar
Graduate School Academic Calendar
Campus Book Store
Matthews Medical Books and Supplies.
MCWconnect
MCW connect is an online system used by students to register for courses, view their academic records, and update their contact information.
If you forget your login or password or if you have trouble accessing the system, contact MCWconnect_support@mcw.edu.
Library
Students may remotely access library resources, including thousands of online journals. Contact the MCW Libraries for more information.
Students may use the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee library through the Cooperative Access Program and all libraries affiliated with the University of Wisconsin System.
Email
All PM Education students are required to utilize their MCW email account and may not forward their email to an outside account.
If you forget your username or password, contact the Information Services Help Desk at (414) 955-4357.
Faculty
Contact Us
MCW Graduate School
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-8218
(414) 955-0084 (fax)
gradschool@mcw.edu
