About the Department

Pathology, defined as the study of disease, bridges the gap between the basic and clinical sciences. Because of its pivotal position in medical education, it is designed to challenge the student’s ability to integrate facts and solve clinical problems that are commonly encountered in clinical practice.

 

General pathology reviews basic mechanisms of disease, which are critical to the understanding of clinical disorders. Laboratory medicine or clinical pathology is the study of the proper use and interpretation of laboratory tests. Systemic Pathology constitutes the largest portion of the course and spans both the Fall and Spring semesters. It introduces the student to specific disorders involving each of the organ systems.

 

Since pathology is a bridging science, it thoroughly integrates the material covered during the first year and provides the necessary framework for understanding the clinical sciences in the third and fourth year.