Technical advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of disease necessitate the highest standards of an interdisciplinary approach in the pharmacology curriculum. Most clinically used drugs bind to proteins (known as receptors) and induce conformational changes that activate or inhibit receptor function, thereby eliciting clinically desirable effects. Medical students must develop a comprehensive understanding of these biophysicochemical processes, as they recognize the therapeutic actions of the drugs they will prescribe in the near future.

Teaching pharmacology provides a well-rounded foundation in the biomedical sciences and fosters the development of translational research programs. Blaise Costa delivers approximately forty hours of pharmacology lectures to a class of 180 students. During his time at VCOM, he has received three Golden Apple Awards from the Sigma Sigma Phi VCOM Chapter in recognition of excellence in teaching biomedical sciences. Following is a list of lectures delivered in recent years.

Costa's Pharmacology Lectures:

MED 7160: General and Musculoskeletal Pharmacology

·   Pharmacokinetics I&II                                                                       

·   Drugs for Osteoporosis                                 

·   Pharmacology of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs                                       

·   Pharmacologic Basis of Antibacterial Drugs I&II                                         

·   Drugs for Osteoarthritis and Gout                                        

·   Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis                                 

·   Anti-fungal and Non-HIV Antiviral agents

MED 7165: Pharmacology of Neurological System and Special Senses

·   Local Anaesthetic Agents                                         

·   Pharmacology of General Anaesthetics

·   Drugs acting on autonomic nervous system I-VI 

·   Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease & ALS

MED 7170: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Pharmacology

·   Antihyperlipidemics I&II                                

·   Antiplatelets, Anticoagulants and Thrombolytic drugs I&II                          

·   Pharmacologic Management of Ischemic Heart Disease I&II

·   Management of Supraventricular and Ventricular Arrhythmias-I&II                        

·   Pharmacologic Management of Congestive Heart Failure I&II                               

·   Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections                                                     

·  Antibiotic Agents for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

MED 7175: Gastrointestinal Pharmacology

·   Medications for Gastroesophageal reflux disease & Peptic Ulcer Disease             

·   Anti-nausea/Anti-Emetic Drugs                                            

·   Drugs for Constipation/diarrhoea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome I & II        

·   Inflammatory Bowel Disease                                    

·   Antiparasitic Drugs                                                   

·   Drugs used in Hepatic Diseases                                                      

·   Medications for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections                                       

·   Pharmacology of Drugs Acting on Vasopressin Receptors

MED 7180: Reproductive and Endocrine Systems

·   Growth Hormones & Drugs for Adrenal Disorders                           

·   Drugs for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Incontinence                          

·   Androgens and Drugs for Impotence

MED 7160: Case Based Learning (CBL):

·   Antimicrobials for Bone & Joint infections

·   Urinary Tract Infections

·   Gastrointestinal Infections

·   Inflammatory Disorders and Crystalline Arthropathy and Osteoarthritis