What Is This Program?
The online Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology is offered through the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. This program consists of 12 credits offered entirely online.
Students can complete the graduate certificate in as little as two semesters. Courses are offered every semester, and students are accepted year-round. Upon completion of this program, students will receive a Graduate Certificate in Medical Physiology with a specialization in Cardiovascular/Renal Physiology. It is an excellent way for students that want to focus in cardiovascular and renal specialties to add to their knowledge base and their resume.
Why a Graduate Certificate?
The graduate certificate is a way to gain practical knowledge for careers in the medical field. It is a postgraduate program in that students must have a bachelor’s degree in order to be admitted. However, it differs from a master’s degree because it can be completed in just one year and it is mainly focused on medical or graduate school preparation. This certificate also prepares students for the MCAT and other similar exams, as well as National Board examinations.
The graduate certificate is made up of four courses. GMS6400C is an intensive course which is not self-paced and must be completed by itself in the first semester. The remaining three courses are self-paced and can be taken in the same term. If students register for the remaining three courses in the same term, the course content should be completed in the following order: (1st) GMS6410, (2nd) GMS6414, and (3rd) GMS6413.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMS 6400c | Principles of Medical Physiology | 6 | X | X | X |
| GMS 6410 | Physiology of Circulation of Blood | 2 | X | X | X |
| GMS 6414 | Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology | 2 | X | X | X |
| GMS 6413 | Advances in Hypertension Research | 2 | X | X | X |
Who Is This Program For?
This graduate certificate is beneficial for:
- Medical professionals, such as nurses and physician assistants
- Students preparing for the MCAT or other standardized tests
- Medical school applicants
- Nursing school applicants
- Physician assistant school applicants
- High school biology teachers or community college professors
Why Medical Physiology?
This exciting field of study provides a deeper understanding of human physiology at a level required for clinical medicine. It also provides advanced training in cardiovascular/renal physiology research.
Students will learn from UF’s experienced professors in graduate-level courses, expanding their knowledge of advanced anatomical and physiological principles and giving them an advantage in the competitive world of medicine.
GMS 6400c Principles of Medical Physiology
This course teaches the functions of the human body at a level required for clinical medicine. Students will gain an understanding of how systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions and how failure of these normal physiologic functions and interactions are associated with some diseases.
GMS6410 Physiology of Circulation of Blood
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of cardiovascular function, including control of cardiac development, vascular and microvascular function, baroreflex and chemoreflex control of the circulation, role of the kidney and central nervous systems in cardiovascular regulation, the maternal and fetal circulation in normal pregnancy and the use of gene therapy tools in cardiovascular research.
GMS6414 Advanced Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of kidney function, including physiological control of glomerular filtration and glomerular function in renal disease, regulation of renal sodium excretion, morphology of renal transporters, renal mechanisms of acid base balance and the renal physiologic responses to normal pregnancy.
GMS6413 Advances in Hypertension Research
This course delves into important, current aspects of hypertension research. It begins with
clinical trials and pharmacogenomics and considers mono- and polygenic forms of hypertension, dietary/environmental influences leading to salt dependent hypertension/metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes, neural control of BP and stress-induced hypertension, endothelial dysfunction / inflammation and stem cells in hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy and fetal programming of hypertension.
