The BMS Department takes great pride in its role in the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs of the UMCG and the RuG. Our goal is to make students and other learners competent in concepts and knowledge concerning the structure and function of cells and living organisms in health and disease. Our staff’s teaching expertise covers a very wide array of topics: At the most detailed level of analysis, this includes molecular biology and cell biology, the use and relevance of model systems for human health and disease, and technical methods for biomedical research (with an emphasis on molecular imaging). At more general levels of analysis, we provide teaching in human physiology, anatomy, and embryology, as well as in the fields of neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry, mostly delivering knowledge and concepts that are clinically relevant or that contribute to a better understanding of health and disease. In addition to lecturing or practical training, several of our staff members coordinate and organize courses, programs, semesters, and even entire curricula. Much of our teaching is internationally oriented, and therefore in English. Because the teaching landscape is undergoing very rapid changes, the BMS is involved in educational research and developing teaching innovations as well.
We offer three facilities that can be used for teaching and learning: the medical physiology lab, the molecular imaging center (including electron microscopy) and the dissection room. The latter is closely connected, and heavily dependent on, the Groningen human body donation program.
BMS contributes to teaching programs across 4 RuG faculties (Medical, Behavioral and Social, Science and Engineering, University College). We take a major position in ‘lifelong learning’ through participation in PhD teaching programs (e.g. GSMS) and through organizing and facilitating high-end post-graduate clinical simulations (e.g. Wenckebach Skills Center, Crossing the Borders). Our department also participates in the European Medical School Groningen–Oldenburg (EMS), a unique cross-border collaboration between UG and the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg. Collectively, BSCS staff contributes to the education and training of 3000 – 4000 learners annually.
The quality of teaching of BMS is underscored by several prizes and awards won by our members in recent years, including Best Teacher in Medicine, UMCG Teacher of the Year, and the UMCG Education & Training Prize.
The education ambassador of the BSCS is dr. Janniko Georgiadis.
