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Technical University of Munich
Bild: Hans-Rudolf Schulz / TUM

Teaching

Our institute primarily teaches courses in the clinical phase of the medical program at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). We also organize some courses in the joint preclinical phase of the medical program with Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Since the introduction of the new licensing regulations in 2003, the course “History, Theory, and Ethics of Medicine” (GTE) has been a required course in medical school. At IGEM, medical ethics is taught not only as a theoretical discipline but also in a very practical way using case studies, incorporating students’ own experiences. Through lectures, seminars, workshops, and other events, we aim to help integrate medical ethics even more deeply into medical education.

Courses

Human Medicine Clinical phase

  • Cycle: Summer semester
  • Course language: German
  • Examination: Written exam
  • Target group: Students in the first year of clinical studies

This compulsory lecture provides an overview of topics and issues relevant to medical ethics. Not only ethics at the beginning and end of life, organ transplantation or the doctor-patient relationship will be discussed. Ethical aspects of medical research and new medical technologies are also a focus. Theoretical and historical aspects of medicine will also be addressed. The GTE lecture is led by the director of the institute, Prof. Alena Buyx, MD. Some units will be taught by staff members of the institute.

  • Cycle: winter and summer semester
  • Course language: German and English
  • Examination: Attendance, active participation and presentation
  • Target group: Students of the second clinical study year

A total of eight small groups are supervised each semester by the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine as part of the ethics seminar. Case studies in medical ethics illustrate the problems of the doctor-patient relationship, end-of-life issues for patients, and research ethics. In addition to the three sessions of the ethics seminar, the lecturers also take over one session of the palliative medicine seminar and deal with the ethical aspects.

  • Cycle: winter and summer semester
  • Course language: Individual according to subject
  • Examination: Individual according to subject
  • Target group: Students of the second clinical study year

The Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine (IGEM) offers one to two elective courses in both semesters. This is offered by different lecturers of our institute, so that the topics covered, course language and focus vary. Interactive and case-based, participants discuss, for example, the use of artificial intelligence or genome editing. In addition to innovations in biomedical research, other ethical challenges in everyday medical practice are discussed. Which elective is offered can be found in the catalog on mediTUM.

Human Medicine Preclinical phase

  • Cycle: Winter semester
  • Course language: German
  • Examination: Attendance and active participation
  • Target group: first-year students of preclinical studies

The first event of the students of human medicine is organized by the Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine (IHEM). Over three days, several lecture halls will host lectures by subject representatives for first-year students. From general medicine, gynecology, pediatrics and psychosomatics, to forensic medicine and pathology, to radiology, emergency medicine and other disciplines, students will get an overview of the exciting specialties that await them in medical school.

  • Cycle: Winter semester
  • Course language: German
  • Examination: Learning objectives via Med.Moodle (LMU)
  • Target group: Preclinical students

IGEM coordinates Group AB’s participation in the Terminology course. The course is taught by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Locher. Students can find the assessments for the course on Med.Moodle (LMU).

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