Gary Patti
1 course · 32 reviews
All Reviews
I took biochem with Dr. Patti a few years ago. He is a great lecturer, but I felt more than slightly deceived when I realized in graduate school that all of his lecture material and figures are adapted verbatim from a different biochem textbook (Lehninger) without attribution
6/2/2026
Just finished my 2nd yr of med school. I can't emphasize enough how influential Prof Patti's class has been. The guy has a truly amazing mind. Learning how he organizes metabolism is worth taking his class alone, plus he gives the best lectures. Keep your notes. You won't find the material in any textbook, at least not in such a logical format.
8/1/2022
If you want to experience the hell of biochemistry, just come and take Gary's class. He is the most awful lecturer I have ever seen. He is good at being a hypocrite smiling to everyone but also degrading everyone in front of other professors. As known the star of Chemistry Department, Gary even does not give a sht to other faculties.
7/14/2022
Dr. Patti gives good lectures but clearly doesn't like interacting with students, he's never available. He also doesn't provide a clear rubric for grading, and undergrad and grad students in the class receive wildly different grades for the same work. After reading a few of his papers it seems like he just dumbs down stuff he wrote the book on.
1/12/2021
Can't say enough about Dr. Patti- I love this man. Best professor at WashU. His lectures are engaging and clear. His tests and quizzes are hard but fair. He demands you learn the material and not just memorize it. He cares deeply about the subject and his students, and is happy to help students outside of class. Don't miss out on taking his class!
5/8/2019
Best class and best prof I had at wu, by a lot. Made me realize that most classes at wu are just pure memorization. Take this class if you really want to learn science. I actually took biochm 2 for credit twice. Once w/ Patti and once w/ someone else. They let you because they know how diff Patti does it. Not even close-Patti is the absolte best.
5/10/2017
Had heard great things about this class. It's more than lived up to the reputation. Single most influential class I have taken. Makes a lot of stuff you learn in undergrad click for the first time. All science majors should definitely take it.
5/1/2017
If you're premed, definitely take this class, because it makes metabolism in med school SO much easier. Dr Patti integrates biochem with basic pathology (diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, etc) in a way that makes you really THINK, and completely changed the way I approached science. Go to office hours with q's- he's a delight to talk to and be around
2/15/2017
Everyone told me to take this class because "Pattie is so amazing"...I don't see it. He is rather rude, and he does not like interacting with students. The grading on the weekly quizes is arbitrary. He gets irritated when students ask questions.
2/3/2017
Truly an amazing class and an incredible professor. Having just finished biochem in med school, at some point I only used his old notes for metabolism instead of books or notes from med school. The way he teaches it is honestly brilliant and makes it very intuitive. Hard work, but by far the most rewarding class I took at WU!!
11/23/2016
This was probably my second favorite class, behind Chem 111. Patti is wicked smart, and he is a serious researcher. He tries very hard to bring the material, which is pretty much his research, down to a level we can understand. I like the material, I just wish he cared more about all of the students, not just the star students.
11/3/2016
Dr. Patti has had the single most significant impact on shaping my life. I'd be following a very different path had I not taken his class.
5/12/2016
I'm now in my first year of medical school. So far, this class has been the most helpful in preparing me out of those I took in undergrad.
10/14/2015
Dont take Krezel. He's boring and you won't learn anything. If you only need 1 semester of biochem, take Patti. He will waive the first semester pre-req. I dropped Krezel and still did well with patti.
8/15/2015
Do everything you can to take biochem with Patti. He only teaches every other year, but he is definitely the best by far. It's tough, but you'll truly learn and he lowers the cutoffs in the end so everyone does pretty well. Awesome class--best science class at WashU.
5/25/2015
Interesting material presented in a dynamic and compelling way. My favorite class in my college career. Smart, clear, organized, and helpful professor. A must take class.
5/22/2015
Taught by one of the best professors at WashU. Even though I did not do particularly well in the class i can honestly say this is one of those life changing classes. Makes you see the world in a totally different light. Amazing teacher, amazing class.
5/19/2015
Patti is awesome. Professors like him are why I'll miss WU when I graduate. He truly cares about students. He was willing to meet with me personally and talk about anything. Then he followed up with me several times to make sure I was doing OK. Changed my perspective of science and my career direction. Best class at WU.
5/9/2015
Hardest class Ive taken. Its tough but you really learn. Didn't like the guy honestly but he can teach.
5/7/2015
Wish Patti taught both semesters of biochem. I would have probably changed my major to biochem.
4/26/2015
I'll make it simple. The best science course I have ever taken and I am not a pre-med student. I'm actually considering switching my career path because of Dr. Patti.
12/5/2014
Patti is the absolute best of the Biochemistry teachers. He only teaches every other year, so plan ahead. He really knows his stuff - impressive mind. His background in medicine and chemistry puts a great perspective on the biology. He has great TAs also.
12/4/2014
Class requires a lot of effort but is taught at a high level. Definitely worth it. I am consistently rocking the Biological section on practice MCATs. I give much credit to this class for my scores--a lot is familiar from class. Prof Patti is awesome. Great teacher and, without question, most well dressed and attractive prof I've had at WU.
7/27/2013
Incredible class. Lectures are early but prof's excitement kept me engaged. Class was well organized and lectures entertaining, but exams are extremely difficult and early (boo!!). Great for premeds. Dr Patti's application examples are fascinating and relevant to practical things like fat, exercise, vitamins--types of examples you never forget.
6/4/2013
If you are premed, I highly recommend this class. I expect this to be one of the most useful classes I took as an undergrad. It is hard, but you could not ask for a better professor. He emailed me personally several times in the semester to follow up on questions I asked. You will learn a lot!
5/15/2013
Best class I have taken at Wash U. Dr. Patti's lectures are amazing. He is full of energy and the most enthusiastic instructor I have had here. Did not expect much going in, but his class changed my opinion of biochem and what I want to do in science/medicine. Pretty challenging, but rewarding. Great class!!
5/13/2013
Excellent lecturer, friendly, willing to help students. Exams are difficult. It may take some time and effort getting used to his test questions. Quizzes are reasonable as long as you study the material. I strongly recommend this class. For pre-med students, this course prepares you very well for the biological sciences section of the MCAT.
5/12/2013
Prof Patti is a great lecturer and this class WILL DEF prepare you for medical school. Great class overall. Exams are hard, but fair and you can do well if you study hard and talk to him. Office hours are really helpful to help with logic. Good to take with Cell Bio, which is all memorization but Patti's class sort of explains it all.
4/7/2013