According to the CDC, more than 600,000 people in the United States die each year from heart-related diseases, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. Cardiovascular disease is a result of the gradual buildup of plaque or fatty material within the arterial walls leading to heart attacks. However, most cardiovascular diseases are preventable by addressing risk factors such as poor and unhealthy diets, smoking, environmental hazards, and limited physical activity. The heart is one of the most vital organs required for human life and has very complex structures and mechanisms that enable blood circulation throughout the body. This DeCal aims to introduce interested students from all backgrounds the fundamentals of the heart. In particular, we will cover its respective anatomy and physiology, learn related diseases and their impacts in public health, and explore exciting on-going research fields. This weekly DeCal is 1 hour long and counts as 1 unit P/NP.

This course will be taught by all three student facilitators in an interactive style. Lectures, discussions, videos and activities will be used to reinforce course content. Typical classes will consist of a bi-weekly quiz and a final project. The final project will be divided into four pieces: topic proposal, annotated bibliography, written summary and a final presentation. These four pieces serve as checkpoints to ensure that the students are on track for their final project. The presentations will be conducted in the last section of class.

**NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: We still have openings for those who are interested, please shoot us an email!**