When the MSU Evening College celebrated its 50th anniversary this summer, its executive director, Louise Cooley, noted what she thought were the three major programs of the Evening College's history.

One of the three was MSUCOM's Mini Medical School, at that point less than one year old.

Begun in Fall 2000, the Mini Medical School attracted 65 community people to attend six weekly two-hour evening sessions. This year, more than 75 attended. The program, oriented to laypersons' needs, includes basic anatomy, physiology, pathology, prevention and treatment of each condition studied, all with a distinctive osteopathic flavor.

Small discussion groups led by CIMSA students gave participants opportunities to learn more about diabetes.

This year's topics included two on mental health, and one each on cardiovascular vessel health, "diabolical diabetes," joint health and a cancer primer. Faculty included Gerald Osborn, DO, MPhil, and Jed Magen, DO (Psychiatry); David Strobl, DO and Peter Gulick, DO (Internal Medicine); Taylor Scott, DO, and Cheryl Doane, DO (Family and Community Medicine) with students from the Community Integrated Medicine Student Association; and Marcy Schlinger, DO (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation).

"This provides a fantastic way to learn about health," noted one participant, "(teaching me) not only what I should do, but why."

For information on Mini Medical School 2002, contact Pat Grauer, director of public relations, 517-353-0616; grauer@msu.edu.