There are far too many complainers here. Yes, Heidemann is difficult. However, introducing such a vast array of physiological topics is a difficult task for anyone. His tests were challenging, yes, but extremely well written and fair. He is not the best teacher, but he does somewhat well considering the incredible pace that he is required to take to cover all of his topics fast enough. There's no good reason to attend the lectures physically. My recommendation is to use his lectures as a guide for what you should be concentrating on from your textbook. Also, most of this stuff is rudimentary enough so you can find everything you need to know on wikipedia and the like. If you are having trouble learning from Heidemann because of his style, then just study it on your own.



Lastly, just a bit of life advice: learn everything from this class as well as you possibly can right now, because almost every little piece is going to come back into your life soon (especially you, med students).

Pros: Don't need to read the book

Cons: Lots of lecture material

This was an interesting topic course. You come out of it knowing a lot more about cancer than you did going into it. You will also learn a lot of cell mechanisms, but that wasnt quite as interesting to me. The class rarely lasted more than an hour and 15 minutes. Dr. Heidemann was very nice, and was basically constantly available for office hours, and was very helpful if you went. While the material of the class was somewhat interesting, having to go to most of the classes basically puts you to sleep. For about 3/4s of the classes you just listen to other kids do their oral reports. I guess it is better than working though. I usually just kept a tally of how many times the person speaking said UM or something. Dr. Heidemann is nice, but he gives the most awful faces during your reports. You constantly think you are saying something wrong because of his grimaces, and he even sometimes looks out the window and sigs like he is bored. But when he gives you your grade after your talk, it is and A or A+ or something. So just try to ignore the faces. Overall the class is interesting, Dr Heidemann is a good guy, its not too hard to do well, and if you were afraid of doing speeches before(like me) you learn they are not so bad.

I gave him a 1.0 because I actually did learn something in his section of the class (he teaches the cell physio section). It has been helpful in preparing for the MCAT and I hear it puts you a step ahead in med school. That being said, he is unapproachable for help, horribly boring (it's impossible to get through an entire hour listening to him), and too difficult. He asks questions on exams not to see if you know anything, but to see if you can fight your way past his tricks to the right answer.

I 4.0ed the class only because I watched all of the lectures online (not in class, i'd pass out from boredom, this way I could pause and rewind after I nodded off), took a LOT of notes, and devoted my life to the class pretty much. Don't bother reading, it's not on the exams. (It is for 432 tho!)

Yeah, definitely not as bad as everyone says. But he sure knows how to write an exam. You have to know your stuff inside and out if you expect to do well.

Overall this class was poorly taught. While one prof had better lectures, one had better exam questions, and one was nicer. Dr. Heidemann is not really that friendly of a guy and he makes really distracting facial expressions. In all, he's kind of an ass. But I felt his material was more difficult then the rest, and his slides were well done to help you with it. There was a lot more chemistry and intricate pathways involved which take longer to memorize (channels, enzymes, regulation, neurons, muscles, receptors). A lot of people liked the other profs exams better but I actually thought Heidemann's were the most straight forward (and less wordy). Yes, he connects his material so you want to know things really well, but at least you don't have to unwind this big tangle of a web trying to figure out 1 exam question. Still his exam questions aren't that great, I just felt they were the better out of all of them. His lectures are boring, he just reads off the slides and doesn't really add much, if any. Just don't get behind in your studies and don't bother reading the book (even tho they say to follow it, it's different then the lectures and they don't take any questions from it). After each lecture, go over your notes and study. I found making flow charts of the pathways/mechanisms helped a TON! It's not a course you can cram for. The material is pretty simple/straight forward (of course some is challenging). It's just the exams are difficult). The first 2 are decent if you study a great deal, but that final was a monster of a thing (class avg = 57%). Good Luck!

Easily one of the worst professors I've had. He is clearly smart and knows the material, and probably does fine research, but he has no idea how to handle students. When his exam averages are going so low that sheer chance becomes a major factor, he brushes it off, claiming that such things happen in "the big leagues." I'd have a lot more respect for him if he was willing to admit that his exams are really hard, and that he could use to improve as a professor. Instead, he seems to take pride in being "hard-nosed" (Read: Heartless) and being completely unsympathetic to the plight of his students. The icing on the cake for me was the last email he sent, in which he bashed those that plead for "mercy" by telling them they can't have a fourth pitch in the world series or some absurd sports metaphor. This course is crucial to people's careers, at least the man could have some sympathy for those that have to reconsider their life goals in light of this course. I could go on for quite some time, especially considering that there were no SIRS forms for this course, as far as I'm aware.

never before have i meet a teacher who has is suck a little prick. I have dealt with Stephen J in class and professionally through my work, and can attest to him being an all out, died in the wool, douchebag. The physiology department needs to rethink his position as head of PSL431/2, because the way he treats students just isint fair. i think he gets some sick joy out of passing out failing grades to starry eyed premeds hoping to get a shot at med school. Maybe he was beaten by his father as a child and this is how he gets back, i dont know, the possibilities are endless.



Stephen J's main goal is to bend half the class over a table and give it to them until they bleed. I survived with 4's, but it cost me my sanity.

To future PSL 431/2 student- im sorry. theres no choice. universities have this annoying thing called tenure, and because this slimy little douche won it, hes gonna keep on teaching this course until his little black heart stops beating

This class is hard. Hands down. It doesn't matter how well you have done thus far, this class will still kick your ass. Heidemann is arrogant, and will make you feel like a piece of shit. He asked a girl a question in one of the review sessions and then laughed at her when she said the wrong answer. He is one of those professors who is incredibly intelligent, and can't understand why his students don't think his material is easy. The average on his exam was a 50% (the av. on the final was 57) and he sends a nice email to everyone letting you know how disappointing your performance was, and how he expected so much more. He never stops to think that maybe everyone did so bad because he can't teach. If you have to take this class, I'm sorry. I have friends who tell me medical school physiology is easier than this class. Just get through it the best you can, and hopefully by the end you don't end up flinging yourself off a building.

This guy should not be considered a "teacher" because in order to BE a teacher, you need to be able to actually TEACH. Now I know this is a rather harsh requirement for a teacher, but it helps. He has the worst monotone voice I've ever heard that puts you to sleep. Does he realize that not all of use have been studying cells for 20+ years like he has??? He shouldn't be allowed to ever teach again because he's so terrible at it. I think he should be paying us to have to listen to his shit, rather than us paying for his class, which I've learned nothing in. You would think that he would realize that his test was WAY too hard when the average is in the 40's, but not Heidemann....the average is low because none of the 500+ people in the class studied for the exam....YEAH RIGHT. I studied for 3 days straight and still did horrible. Maybe he should stick to teaching cell biology classes, and stay the hell out of the physiology department.

I honestly thought that he was a pretty good professor. He went at a reasonable pace and did not cover topics that most people have not seen before. He does ask you to incorporate the material across lectures so you do have to make sure you know the material inside and out to be able to get through the test. I do understand that he was defiantly not the most approachable guy in the world, when i talked to him he wasn't so friendly, but i would say 90% of the people that bad mouth him just didn't do the work to get a good grade. The other 10% i feel for because his test can be a bit tricky. I liked him and the other two teachers that we have had for Psl 431, I would defiantly recommend this class cause it is not only challenging, and probably required for you, but you learn a great deal of interesting material.

Seriously. When the average is a 42% on the exam and he doesn't see a problem with his teaching, there is a problem. He can't teach worth a shit. It's a 400 level class but you're paying the teacher to at least explain the shit to you. Pointless to follow the book, tried that, and he doesn't go from the book. So you really don't have anything to depend on but his ridiculous outragious notes that make no sense. Don't expect any explanations either. The study guide was a joke.

When the average on an exam is so low, there are usually two problems... the students study habits and the prof's teaching. Heidemann didn't explain how to study for the exam so that's his fault and he doesn't even see a problem with the way he teaches.



You'll fail if you have him but look at the bright side, he only teaches for a month.

Pros: -Learned a lot

-Interesting info

-Heidemann is organized

-Fair class

-Doable if you work REALLY hard

Cons: -insanely difficult

-very time consuming

-no grades other than tests

I thought this class was very beneficial and many med school students who are in physiology in med school agree. Heidemann is very tough, but fair. His class is doable but it takes a TON of work. You need to read the material several times and reorganize it and make tables/diagrams to help you understand it, which realistically not many people have time for. The thing i loved is you never have to go to class because there's no clickers and lectures are recorded. But if you're the type of person who easily gets behind, this is bad. Overall, I'm glad I took the PSL431/432 instead of 250 or 310 one semester version of this course.

Ok, take a deep breath. You are about to enter the realm of Steve Heidemenn. Better yet, forget about the breath and just rent a gun and buy a bullet; because you'll be ready to use it when you sit down to take [or get taken by] his exams. I don't care if he's colorblind, used to be a gymnast, or doesn't know how to say the word 'down-load', he just doesn't have 'it'. As a matter of fact, he has the opposite of 'it'. Horrible teacher, out of 737 or so students, 737 will tell you his questions are improbable/unneccessary/and near impossible. Instead of a 33 question exam, it's more like a 130 question true/false test, because there is a paragraph for each choice [A-E, (which is what you're going to get on your exam)]. My advice: be a plumber or a trash man, they make good money too.

Basically he replaced Adams on the exam hard scale. I heard adams used to have hard ass exams too, but people actually had a chance on those. But heidemann's questions are confusing to the max, out of his 5 choices for answers, atleast 3 seem dead on correct. 4th and 5th one are a hair away from being wrong, so basically you have to sit there going through each answer choice asking yourself if its right or wrong. I never talked to him in person, but after the last email Im glad I didnt. But my advice to everyone is just prepare yourself for the final, dont matter how good or bad you do on the first two exams (not saying get complete zeros on the first two, but a 2.0 will give you a good chance at even a 4.0 after the final). A 2 hour final determines 14 weeks of work..... :(

I choose to give HIDEYMAN a JERO.5. This man is pretty swell. He does not dress like most teachers do however. He has a beard similar to a grizzly bear and jeans on par to pamela anderson. His class is pretty tough, and he is a helpful willing young man. I even decided to call him once during his office hours, he answered like a female, but anyway he is very helpful. I got a 4.0 in this class, but dont except to get a 4.0 unless you do everyhting ontime and with extra effort.



overall STEVEN is a nice man, he does need a couple razors, a tv, some new jeans, and a wife, but other than that, I believe those things will hinder him from giving 4.0's to most girls and 1.5's to most guys.



great guy.

Heidemann makes me think that he applied to medical school and didn't get in, so he wants to crush any med school dreams you may have. His exam questions are tough. Often the worst are the many compare and contrast types.

It really helps if you're taking bmb 462 at the time because of the pathways/memorization are similar at times.

He definitely has a hard-on for Rube Goldberg. Almost every lecture he wastes time by mentioning his name.

I got a 4.0 because I spent time learning the material. Do the same if you want a good grade. Looking back, it's pretty straight-forward, just a lot of information.

Resist the urge to punch him in the face just because he is amused at how dumb we all are.

This class is just a sick joke. I've gotten 4.0's in every other class... except the two PSL's I've taken. This guy thinks everyone is as smart as he is, and definitely can't understand why you don't get the material. He makes sure to let you know that you are stupid, and that everyone did "dismal" on his exam. His grading scale makes no sense, because it doesn't really matter how you do on the first two exams, because the final determines your grade. The only way you'll do well in this class is to keep an open mind... try not to get down on yourself, and just make some flow charts and what not. Don't bother going to class... you'll just end up doodling on your notes.

Not a very good teacher. He did make some effort to help students, however if you want to do well in his class you are going to have to teach yourself the material. His lectures serve more as an aide. His material does correspond to the book, contrary to what other people say, and he provided us with practice exam questions. Monotoned voice, not very interesting, but if you bare through it, you CAN learn things. He has poor orginizational skills when it comes to the material. He will jump from one subject to the next, and then go back to the first a few lectures later. You really have to teach the material yourself and understand it to do well though.

I really hated him. There was just no reason for him to be such a jerk sometimes. In response to some of the below posts I got a 3.5 on his exams and in the class so this isnt just someone mad about not doing well. I taught myself the material and it was manageable. I studied atleast a week before each exam and probably about 40 hours for each. I think that Heidemann just takes pleasure in making you feel stupid. He is also super annoying to look at... always making weird faces with his lips etc. it was distracting. I dont think there is any way of getting around Heidemann for psl so my advice is study hard, suck it up and deal with it.