Program Objectives

Goal:

The goal of MD course in Pathology is to produce a competent pathologist

• Has acquired the competence pertaining to basic instrumentation and procedures required for the practice of Pathology in the community and at all levels of health care system.
• Has acquired skills effectively in communicating the diagnosis to the patients especially cancer patients. He should be able to demonstrate empathy and have a humane approach towards patients and their families and respect their sensibilities.
• Demonstrate communication skills of a high order in explaining management and prognosis, providing counseling and giving health education messages to patients, families and communities.
• Practice the specialty of Pathology in keeping with the principles of professional ethics.
• Function as a productive member of a team engaged in health case, research and education.

Learning Objectives:

• Make a diagnosis based on histopathology (surgical pathology) and cytopathology specimens, blood and bone marrow examination and various tests of Laboratory Medicine (clinical pathology, clinical biochemistry) as well as Blood Banking (Transfusion Medicine).
• Interpret clinical and laboratory data with reasonable accuracy and prepare a succinct and lucid report
• Compose reports following standard protocols including synoptic reporting
• Interpret and correlate clinical and laboratory data so that clinical manifestations of diseases can be explained.
• Advise on the selection of appropriate specimens and tests necessary to arrive at a diagnosis in a problematic case including molecular tests.
• Correlate clinical and laboratory findings with pathology findings at autopsy, identify miscorrelations and the causes of death due to diseases (apart from purely metabolic causes).
• Maintain quality control of all tests by being part of Internal Quality Control Monitoring program.
• Make and record observations systematically and maintain accurate records of tests and their results for reasonable periods of time. Identify problems in the laboratory, offer solutions thereof and maintain a high order of quality control.
• Should be aware of safe and effective disposal of laboratory waste and ensure minimization risk of exposure to infection and accidents to laboratory personnel.

Teaching and training:

• Should be able to teach Pathology to undergraduates, postgraduates, nurses and paramedical staff including laboratory personnel.
• The postgraduate student should be able to teach effectively and assess undergraduate medical and allied health science students so that they become competent healthcare professionals.

Research:

• Plan, execute, analyze, and present research work independently or as part of a team.
• The postgraduate student in Pathology should acquire knowledge and skills to be able to conduct a research project from the planning to the publication stage and become a lifelong learner.

Professionalism, Ethics and Communication skills:

• The postgraduate student should learn and apply principles of professionalism, ethics, and effective communication in conduct of routine pathology services, research, and routine work.