The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The teaching program aims to deepen physiopathology, clinical and health care priority issues selected for epidemiological relevance and exemplarity. The main clinical syndromes and organ diseases presenting are considered, both through the presentation of examples as clinical cases and through that rational analysis of problems and therapy modalities. Concerning geriatric syndromes are considered in particular the problems related to clinical instability, especially in chronic illness/disability, and clinical alterations resulting from the aging population and the rise of chronic problems degenerative diseases. The overall approach focuses on the recognition and management of current and potential problems within a framework of continuity in different contexts and on the promotion and development of self-care skills and abilities. At the end of the course the student should reach adequate competence concerning the pathophysiology and treatment of geriatric syndromes, the major organ disease conditions and have a rational approach to medical therapy and the use of medications.
Professional objectives: to be able to interpret symptoms, clinical signs, structural and functional alterations for a global evaluation of personal health condition. To express differential diagnostic hypotheses. To analyze and solve clinical problems of internal medicine with a methodology taking in to account risk-benefits ratio and cost-benefits ratio. To be able of formulate a rational therapeutic programme based on pathophysiological and pharmacological knowledge. To behave kindly and to communicate correctly with patients and their relatives, with colleagues and other sanitary operators on the basis of professional code of conduct and respecting mutual functions.