Our Mission:

The Department of Basic Sciences has a threefold mission focused on the areas of teaching, scholarship and research, and service to the community of southern Nevada.

In teaching, the department strives to provide students with a foundation in the basic medical knowledge necessary for them to evolve into excellent osteopathic physicians. This goal is approached through a combination of traditional didactics, hands-on laboratories, and small group sessions. First year students are provided a rigorous education in anatomy and embryology, neuroscience, biochemistry, and physiology. Biochemistry, histology, and physiology are taught in a systems-based, integrated course. Students are also introduced to immunology and microbiology. These concepts taught in year one are tied into clinical case scenarios during the small group-based Problem Based Learning course. Topics of the second year courses in pathology, pharmacology, and immunology and microbiology are integrated with the Primary Care Clinical Systems course. Students also get important hands-on laboratory experience in the Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics course. The department works closely with the clinical departments in order to infuse osteopathic principles and clinical case scenarios throughout the first and second year curricula.

The scholarship and research and community service facets of the department mission are closely intertwined. Basic scientists are currently developing collaborative research activities with researchers located in the community, which ultimately will enhance the biomedical landscape of southern Nevada. The Nevada campus has recently completed buildout of a state-of-the-art basic science research laboratory, designed to be shared by researchers in various disciplines. The research program will initially draw on the strengths of the department in the areas of immunity and infection, neuroscience, cardiac physiology, and microbial ecology.
For a look at our facilities from a student perspective, go to the virtual tour on tunlive.com