Lectures
The lectures take place in lecture halls of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine. The aim of the lectures is to open up a given topic for the students, to bring it closer, giving examples from the medical practice, and to demonstrate the teacher's attitude to the subject. Moreover, the lectures are to complement modern English-written textbooks of pathology, preferably Robbins' Basic Pathology (10th ed.), and they are to delineate the extent of the topics required to pass the examination. The lectures also enlighten gross and microscopic findings which may be difficult to comprehend from studying textbooks only. The lectures are considered an indispensable part of the courses. Textbooks and self-study are important parts of the study, but lectures can give students an idea about the approach of the teachers. Lectures explain data and findings more difficult to comprehend and/or to imagine. However, the lectures are optional, yet strictly recommended.
In case of eventual absence of your teacher (according to the syllabus), his/her lecture can be substituted by another teacher from our department, or the distant form of the lecture can be provided (via Zoom). The distant form of teaching can be also chosen in case of cancellation of the present form of teaching for any reason (including holidays).
It is forbidden to record any lecture without previous permission of the teacher.
Practical classes
The practical classes take place in the auditorium of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine of the 2ndFaculty of Medicine, Charles University – monoblock for adults (“blue building”), node A, 2nd floor and at the autopsy tract (pavilion no. 11). The aim of practical classes is to lead students to see, to analyse, to comprehend, and to think about the pathological processes in complexity, and to see the links between general and organ pathology. Practical classes are compulsory and arrival on time for the practical classes is strictly required! When late without any reasonable apology, the attendance is liable not to be accepted by the teacher. Then the practical training itself is divided into 2 parts:
Macroscopy (anatomical pathology):
The first part is targeted to macroscopy findings (anatomical pathology). The point of the course is to demonstrate autopsy findings. Macroscopy practical training takes place at the autopsy tract of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine (pavilion no. 11) once in two weeks – they take turns with microscopical ones. The specific order of practical training for every group is going to be updated at the beginning of the academic year. The course of the practical classes is directed by obligation of confidentiality and rules to minimize the biohazard. It is strictly forbidden to take any photos or other material during the autopsy. Also, pregnant students will be exempt from the courses of anatomic pathology – in such a case, the study of pathology will have to be adjourned for 1 year. This must be arranged with the Study Department at the Dean's Office.
Microscopy (histopathology):
The second part of practical classes is targeted to microscopy findings (histopathology). The point of the course is to correlate the gross pathology findings with microscopic observations, to learn how to describe pathological findings under the light microscope, and to recognize and to interpret basic microscopical changes. Microscopy practical trainings take place in the auditorium of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University – monoblock for adults (“blue building”), node A, 2nd floor, once in two weeks – they take turns with macroscopical ones. The specific order of practical training for every group is going to be updated at the beginning of the academic year. A white coat and changing shoes are required for entrance to the auditorium (students should come changed already – there are no changing rooms at the department). Every microscopical training is going to be divided into two parts:
- The first part represents continuous testing of the topics discussed during previous lectures. The testing will be done via virtual platform Kahoot!, which allows the teacher to put quiz questions and microscopic slides into the presentation. The specific topics, which are going to be tested (also prerequisite lectures and seminars), will be noted in the syllabus. The questions are going to be asked right during the lesson itself and every student is required to answer via his/her phone/tablet/notebook. Logging in Kahoot! is provided online (there is a WiFi network Eduroam UK available in the auditorium) after obtaining a code for every single training from the teacher. The teacher will also instruct the students while working with this platform. The aim of this part of the training is to test the students and to keep their attention on discussed topics.
- The second part focuses on the presentation of the new topic, related to the subject discussed during actual lectures. The presentation itself is going to be supplied with demonstration of microscopic slides.
During both parts of the microscopic training, the students are encouraged to work with light microscopes and to train recognition of the slides from prepared sets. These slides represent a significant part of the sets of exam slides. At the end of the practical classes the seminary for all the study groups is held in the auditorium of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine.
"Clinical/Biopsy Week"
Twice per academic year, students from each group will be distributed among the various laboratories of our department, where they will spend their instructional time observing the real daily diagnostic practise. Afterwards, they will prepare a brief report on their experiences within their subgroup, which they will present to their peers at a joint meeting with the department staff. The report will be presented in the form of a shared PowerPoint presentation (one file), where all subgroups from the respective group will upload their presentations in the following order of topics: Material Trimming, Staining methods, Intraoperative Biopsy, Muscle Laboratory, Electron Microscopy, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Flow Cytometry, Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH), PCR and Sequencing Methods. This part of the instruction will take place instead of the designated autopsy and aims to actively introduce the daily diagnostic work of a pathologist and pathology as a modern diagnostic field. Clinical/Biopsy Weeks are a mandatory part of the curriculum, and absences cannot be excused during this time.
Consultations
Consultations may be arranged in advance with your teachers before the end of the Summer Term (before the examination period) – a consultation with a group of students is preferred to consultations with individual students. No consultations are provided by the department during the examination period.
Exam slides
The sets of exam slides are available on the website of the department, including videos with teacher’s explanations.
