To develop an understanding of the causes and mechanisms of disease and the associated alterations of structure and function.
To develop skills of observation, interpretation, and integration needed to analyze human disease. When provided with the clinical history, the anatomical lesions, and the laboratory data of a patient, to determine the most likely diagnosis and explain the pathogenesis of the disease.
This is not a lecture course. It is impossible to cover all of the textbook material in a classroom setting. You must read and learn from the book. It is recommended that you read the Kumar, Cotran, Robbins textbook from cover to cover, ideally twice. You can accomplish this by reading 20-30 pages per day, every day (beginning today), from now until the final exam. You will supplement this reading with relevant portions of the Laboratory Medicine Test Selection and Interpretation textbook by J. Hand & Howanitz.
Instruction is provided in many formats: small groups (tutorials), anatomical labs, clinical labs, at the autopsy table, in the computer laboratory, and by case analysis, all of which are designed to help you learn to utilize information acquired from reading.
An outline of the course and objectives for each section follows this introduction. The reading of these outlines represents guidelines for the performance expected of a Sophomore Pathology medical student. They do not (cannot!) represent the maximum nor the totality of Pathology. Most of the hand-outs for each lecture are also included in this course description.
Kumar, Cotran, Robbins, Basic Pathologic. Cotran, Kumar & Robbins; W.B. Saunders, 6th ed., 1997.
J.H. & P.J Howanitz, Laboratory Medicine Test Selection and Interpretation. J.H. & P.J. Howanitz; Churchill, Livingston, 1991.
Stevens, Lowe, Kirk, Pathology Picture Book. Stevens, Lowe, Kirk; Mosby, 1st ed, 1997.
PRIOR TO ALL LECTURES, LABORATORIES, AND TUTORIALS, REFER TO THE INDEX PAGES OF Robbins, AND READ ALL ENTRIES REFERABLE TO THE TOPIC.
Ravel's Clinical Laboratory Medicine: Clinical Application of Laboratory Data. Richard Ravel; Mosby, 6th ed., 1995.
Basic Histopathology - A Colour Atlas and Text. PR Wheater, HG Burkitt, A Stevens, JS Lowe; Churchill Livingstone, 2nd ed., 1991 (Good gross and microscopic pictures).
Lectures serve as an adjunct to your reading. The main purposes of lectures are:
The class will be divided into tutorial groups of about 15 students each. Each group will be assigned a faculty leader. The purpose of the tutorials is to provide a more personal and interactive kind of teaching and to stimulate a more active learning than occurs with lectures. In preparation for each tutorial, you are to read material pertinent to the assigned topics before the session. In the tutorial, you will discuss these topics and be expected to actively participate. At the beginning of each tutorial a quiz will be given. Quizzes will be graded. Most of the kodachromes from the tutorials are also on the web.
Attendance in tutorials and laboratories is MANDATORY. Three (3) unexcused absences leads to a failure (F) in the course. Absences must be documented in writing (e.g., doctor's note, etc.), and approved by the Tutorial LEADER. A copy must be submitted by the student to the Pathology office (Room 6519), attention Dr. Clejan. Performance in tutorial will influence your final grade (see below).
Most laboratories of the histopathology glass slide laboratories are integrated into the tutorial sessions. But there will be other laboratories in which only glass slides and photographies of organs where those slides were obtained will be shown. The primary purpose of the glass slides and gross pathology is not to teach you the art of morphologic diagnosis, but rather to provide a visual aid to your understanding of the mechanisms of disease. Remember that you are to learn CONCEPTS, and NOT just memorize slides.
Computer-instruction modules (CIM) will be available for study in the computer laboratory. It will not be possible for all students to do the CIM at the same time, but you must have studied the lessons prior to the examination on which the subjects are included. Ideally, these computer lessons should be completed within 3-4 days of assignment. A table of all computer modules in pathology is presented below (and on the Course Overview page):
Autopsy sessions are based on real life cases, i.e., recently deceased patients. Information must be treated with confidentiality. The case is demonstrated by Pathology Faculty and Residents. Members of the Sophomore Class, divided into groups, each take part in one session. Attendance is obligatory. See posted schedule for group assignment and date. At the session, emphasis is placed on the development and use of observational and deductive skills by the students.
Objectives
Location, Time, and Clothing
During the Session
After the Session
At anytime, if you have a question, contact the Autopsy Service Director: Suzanne Meleg-Smith, MD
Pathology Grand Rounds are held by the department of Pathology for Staff and residents from all services.
A CPC session is a Clinico-Pathologic Conference. The objective is to obtain a better understanding of disease processes by correlating the clinical manifestations with the morphological findings, using real life cases.
The Department of Pathology holds a CPC on the third Friday of each month, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. During each CPC, the clinical presentation and the pathology findings from a patient seen recently (TMC or CMC) are presented and discussed by the pathology resident, with input from faculty.
Sophomore students
At anytime, if you have a question, contact the Autopsy Service Director: Suzanne Meleg-Smith, MD
Examinations will cover material presented in lectures, labs, computer lessons, tutorials, and required textbooks. The format will include multiple choice questions, matching sets, true-false questions, short answer questions, and essay-type questions. Visual recognition skills will be tested in each examination by the projection of images of microscopic or gross material presented in lecture, tutorials, textbooks, and computer. Projected materials will be cumulative and comprehensive on each examination.
The final examination (Exam 7) is a standardized cumulative test provided by the National Board of Medical Examiners and will represent 30% of the final grade. The examination schedule is presented below.
Examination Schedule, Sophomore Pathology 1998-1999
| Exam | Date | Time | Content Covered |
| 1st Exam | September 3 | 9:00-10:30 | August 11 to September 2 |
| 2nd Exam | November 13 | 8:00-12:00 | September 8 to November 11 |
| 3rd Exam | January 8 | 8:30-12:00 | November 18 to January 7 |
| 4th Exam | February 12 | 8:30-12:00 | January 11 to February 11 |
| 5th Exam | March 12 | 8:30-12:00 | February 15 to March 11 |
| 6th Exam | May 7 | 8:30-12:00 | April 5 to May 5 |
| Final Exam (Exam 7) | May 14 | 8:30-12:00 | National Board Shelf Exam |
| Exams 1 through 6 | 55% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Tutorials | 8% |
| Autopsy | 5% |
| CPC-Grand Rounds | 2% |
The weight of Exams 1-6 is determined by the number of questions answered and divided by the total number of questions on the exam. Exams 1-6 cumulatively represent 55% of the final grade. CPC-Grand Rounds, Autopsy, and Tutorials each represent 5% of the final grade.
Performance in tutorials may ultimately determine the difference between pass/fail, pass/high pass or high pass/honors as the 5% of the final grade will be added as follows:
| +5 | excellent participation and 90-100% average on quizzes | |
| +4 | good participation and 80-89% average on quizzes | |
| +1 | average participation and 70-79% average on quizzes | |
| -1 | less than average and 60-69% average on quizzes | |
| -2 | poor participation and <59% average on quizzes |
Pathology is not easy. There is a huge amount of material and many new concepts and diseases. If you don’t understand something, we want to know about it right away. Consult your textbooks, fellow students, instructors, course directors. Contact us via campus mail (Box SL-79), e-mail (clejan@tmc.tulane.edu), or schedule an appointment (ph. 588-5437).