Pharmacology Mastery
12 weeks · 0 milestones
Demonstrate mastery of drug classes, mechanisms of action, and clinical application principles. Proof requires: (a) drug class summary cards covering at least 8 major drug classes (mechanism, indications, contraindications, key side effects — created independently, not copied from a textbook); and (b) a prescribing rationale for a realistic clinical scenario: given a patient presentation, justify the drug choice, dose rationale, and monitoring plan in writing. Reviewed by a medical professional or clinical pharmacologist who MUST challenge the rationale with real-time follow-up questions (e.g. 'what would you change if this patient also had renal impairment?' or 'why did you choose this drug class over the alternative?'). The reviewer's Q&A exchange — not the written document alone — is the proof artifact that demonstrates understanding. The proof is the reasoning, not a prescription to be implemented.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Create detailed summary cards for at least eight major drug classes: cardiovascular (ACE inhibitors, statins), antibiotics (beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones), CNS (SSRIs, benzodiazepines), analgesics (NSAIDs, opioids), and at minimum two others of your choosing. Each card must cover: mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, major adverse effects, key drug interactions, and a prototype drug. Cards are for educational purposes only and are not clinical guidance.
Proof required
Submit all eight or more drug class summary cards (as a PDF document or document link). Each card must include: (a) mechanism of action (how the drug affects a specific receptor, enzyme, or transporter), (b) two or more therapeutic uses with named conditions, (c) three or more major adverse effects, (d) two or more significant drug interactions with mechanism explained, and (e) one prototype drug name (generic) and its standard dose range. These cards must be based on standard pharmacology references, not AI-generated output.
What gets checked
- Mechanism of action is specific — 'blocks voltage-gated sodium channels' not 'affects nerve signals'
- Drug interactions include the mechanism — 'MAOIs combined with SSRIs cause serotonin syndrome because both increase serotonergic transmission' not just 'do not combine with MAOIs'
- Adverse effects are drug-class specific — not generic 'nausea and headache' but class-characteristic effects with mechanism (e.g., ACE inhibitor cough from bradykinin accumulation)