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Course Description
Tropical
Medicine Seminar is designed as a journal club, with the specific
goal of encouraging and demonstrating the process of critically
evaluating the medical literature. Each participant is expected to
present at least one article to the class from the recent tropical
medicine literature, and to attend and discuss presentations
delivered by other participants.
Course
Objectives
1. Be able to select an appropriate "hypothesis testing" article
for presentation
2. Develop skills to critically read medical
literature
3. Master the art of concise and precise abstract
writing
4. Become proficient in presentation skills and
discussing the merits/demerits of an article in a scientific
manner.
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Selection of Article
Each student is
expected to select, read, and evaluate at least 3 possible articles
for presentation. Discuss the articles with a faculty advisor, and
select one for presentation. Faculty reviewing the article will
initial the student's copy at the time of approval. Articles must
be approved at least 1 week in advance. The student must give the
initialed copy to the department office (Tidewater Rm 2210) by the
end of the day after approval (6 days prior to the presentation).
For
detailed guidance on selection and approval of articles, click here.
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Abstract
Prepare your own abstract
of the paper to fit on a single page (8.5x11). Be sure you
include:
Your name and seminar date
Title of the
article
Authors
Abstract, in
your own words – including relevance, methods, results,
conclusions
Your conclusions need not agree with those of the
authors.
REFERENCE FOR THE ARTICLE ITSELF (often
forgotten!)
Please list the article reference with the title or
at the end of the article, NOT as part of the “References” section
of your abstract.
2-4 other pertinent references
AFFILIATIONS
OF THE AUTHORS and FUNDING SOURCES
DO NOT COPY THE AUTHOR'S
ABSTRACT (or copy parts of the text as an
abstract)
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Preparation of Presentation
Each student
should select, read, and evaluate 3 possible articles for
presentation. Discuss the articles with a faculty advisor, and
select one for presentation. IT IS BEST TO PRESENT YOUR ARTICLES TO
FACULTY FOR APPROVAL DURING SEMINAR CLASS IF POSSIBLE. Most of us
will also be happy to review an article sent by e-mail, but make
sure you get an answer from us (“no reply” does not mean approved).
Do not choose an article which was presented the previous semester.
Previous schedules can be found linked from the Seminar Schedule
page. Please e-mail the article reference to Dr. Latha Rajan, lrajan@tulane.edu, as soon as
you have it approved so she can post it on the web. For complete
information on preparation of your presentation, see handout.
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Presentation
During your
presentation, provide a BRIEF introduction to the topic, but focus
most of your attention on presentation of the design of the study
and data from the article, reviewing objectives, methods, results,
and conclusions. Critique the design and conclusions of the study,
listing strong points and weak points of the article. Suggest ways
that you believe the article could have been improved. Plan to leave
at least 5-10 minutes for discussion at the end of your presentation
(which may last a total of 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the
schedule).
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Grading
Grading will be based
on the criteria listed on the evaluation
form. Individual faculty will not assign a grade but will only
mark the presentation according to the 4 criteria above.Faculty will
compile these results and assign a grade.
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Audience Participation
Attendance and
participation is expected and will be monitored.
Feel free to
volunteer questions or opinions, even if you are not sure if they
are the “right” ones. Assuming the presenters have given them to
the office, single copies of the articles will be available in the
TRMD 700 wall rack in the mailroom of the Tropical Medicine
Department Office. Most of them are also accessible via the links
on the seminar
schedule.
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