The teaching of pathology is conducted through subspecialties such as Histopathology, Haematology and Chemical pathology. The main teaching commitment of our department is for the 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students of the MBBS course and the students of the Allied health science (AHS) course.
Courses Involved
MBBS degree program
Allied Health sciences
The Department of Pathology is actively involved in teaching programs across a large range of undergraduate students. Undergraduate studies in Pathology begin in third year (5th term of the medical curriculum and continue to the 11th term)) for MBBS students and complete in the 4th year. It starts in 1styearfor AHS Students.
The undergraduate course includes General and Systemic Pathology, Haematology and Chemical Pathology. Teaching learning activities include lectures, tutorials, small group discussions,histopathology, and clinical pathology practical classes and clinical Pathology appointment.
Lecture discussions is delivered by the department staff and extended faculty staffs. Practical classes are conducted in the laboratory with the aim of medeloping basic skills related to the diagnosis of various diseases. Introduction to clinical pathology begins at the 5th term and continues up to 16th term. Students are exposed to the hospital laboratory for 2 weeks. During this period they have to follow and understand the laboratory procedures from the time of a specimen reaching the laboratory to the final writing of the report, issued to clinician.
There are 2 continuous assessments and 1 main exam. Pathology is assessed by MCQs, SBAs, SEQs and OSPEs.
For the AHS students the department involved in lectures, practical training for histopathology and supervision of undergraduate research.
Development in Students Demonstration Technique of Microscopic slides
As at 31.12.2021
In 2013, we introduced digital Microscopic Technique in our students demonstration classes of the microscopic structure of histopathological slides.
We spent Rs 1.245 million to purchase a trinocular microscope, a digital camera with a 24” LED monitor and a control box which acts as a mini computer. With this, nearly 30 students were able to view the live digital image display of the pathological tissue structure at a time. We were able to capture that digital image by using a flash drive and that captured imaged could be used to teach/ study later .This is the major technological breakthrough in our demonstration method since the inception of our department.
In the 1980’s we used prism/ small projection screen as the third head of the microscope to project image on the wall (via prism) or on the projection screen where less than 10 students were able to view at a time with poor image quality of that image. We had to darken the area of demonstration even to get that inferior standard of image. The usage of Multi attachments eyepieces keep the image quality as high but no improvement in the number of viewers at a time
With financial constraints, we managed to purchase an analogue camera in the mid 1990’s which could be connected with microscope’s third head and the captured image in a film roll could be medeloped and printed in a studio.
Unfortunately during IPKF war in 1987 and during 1995 Operation Riviresa the department lost several valuable teaching items including microscopes, prism, projection screen and analogue camera.
Our annual purchasing limit under Teaching and Lab equipment vote never exceeded one million upto now and until 2017 we had to divide part of that to divisions of Parasitology and Microbiology as these divisions were part of our Department. But fortunately in 2013, due additional intake of students we were able to get special fund and able to purchase a trinocular microscope( Olympus CX31) and a digital camera( Olympus DP21, 2MP resolution ) and 50 new binocular microscopes ( Olympus CX22)(50x Rs 130,000) , the total cost of Rs7.745million .
Our search for display of histopathological microscopic image in a larger screen continues. Although our supplied Microscope Manufacturer limited the displayed monitor size to 24” to avoid the considerable drop in image quality, we found 65 “smart board with DVI( Digital Visual Interface ) port could be replaced 24” LED monitor. We purchased a 65” smartboard( Samsung) in 2018 for RS 5,85,000 using our annual allocation for that year. Now we can accommodate 75 students at a time for the live image display demonstration without considerable drop in resolution. In addition to the image capture saving ability, we can use audio explanation with image clips and smart board can be connected via Wi-Fi for distance education.
In 2017, by using AHEAD fund, via the special World Bank Project, we were able to purchase a much better trinocular microscope( Olympus BX 43 , RS 1,680,000)with wider eyepieces( FN 26.5 compared to 20 in previous CX31) to produce with wider and better clarity images .
At the end of 2021, by using the special fund offered for additional intake of students(2019/2020), we were able to purchase another 65 inches smart board with inbuilt nut PC( Sinoview,Rs 462,600 )and an Advanced Camera with higher resolution (5 MP Resolution, Olympus DP27, Rs 1,545,000) with software installed PC and UPS.
Now we have two separate Microscope -Camera – Smart board combinations, to enable us to do two different microscopic demonstrations in two different classes in our Department.