Curriculum

PATHASST 103- Foundations of Patient Care 1.  This core preclinical course focuses on the scientific principles underlying the structure and function of the human body, thereby providing the foundational knowledge for the practice of medicine and facilitating the incorporation of the new scientific knowledge throughout the medical career. The course content includes: biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, histology, anatomy, physiology,   and the neurosciences. Topics pertaining to human disease and injury are incorporated into the curriculum to promote application of course material. Core material is presented through team-based learning, didactic lectures, laboratory exercises, clinical case based problem-solving, and clinical correlations with patients. Credit: 16, Carbrey and Velkey

PATHASST 102 - Foundations of Patient Care 2. This core course in human disease is presented from February through June of the first year. The course begins with fundamental principles of the four basic sciences most directly related to human disease: immunology, microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology. This segment comprises the first seven weeks and also includes discussion of disease classes not related specifically to any one organ system, including cancer, immunodeficiency diseases, and chemically-induced diseases. The remaining thirteen weeks are devoted to an integrated presentation of the most common human diseases organized sequentially by organ system. Teaching modes include team-based exercises, a variety of small group activities guided by faculty, clinically-oriented disease workshops, team-based case discussions, and updated lectures.  Credit: 16. Nadler, Alspaugh, Gunn, Deyrup, and Yee.

PATHASST 203- Neuroscience and the Autopsy.. Students are introduced to neurologic disease processes and how these processes relate to changes in the brain and spinal cord. Emphasis is placed on neuroanatomy, neurohistology, and the neurological dissection and how these concepts impact the approach taken during surgical pathology and autopsy procedures. The course is paired with an introduction to the autopsy service and the various pathology conferences directed towards the service. Credit: 2, Lopez, Cummings, Johnson and Hennessey

PATHASST 204 - Introduction to Practical Surgical Pathology Techniques. Students are introduced to autopsy pathology and the daily activities of a busy autopsy service, and to the daily activities in a surgical pathology laboratory. Emphasis is placed on neurologic gross and microscopic anatomy and dissection of the brain and spinal cord. Students become acquainted with the various duties assumed by trained Pathologists’ Assistants and are introduced to basic tissue dissection techniques taught through participation in the surgical pathology service. Lectures in basic medical terminology are presented with emphasis on pathologic processes. Students are also exposed to educational methodologies in lecture and laboratory settings, medical ethics and professionalism and basic laboratory safety. Credit: 3. Johnson and staff.

PATHASST 210 - Introduction to Autopsy Pathology. This is a summer rotation given during the first summer session. It is designed to re-acquaint the student with autopsy prosection and workup training and experience, building on concepts introduced in PATHASST 204. Students work with the PA on service and assist residents in full autopsy dissections. 2 credits. Glass, Hennessey, and staff

PATHASST 218 -Anatomic Pathology and Digital Analytics. Students participate in rotations through a histology laboratory, and are also introduced to ancillary diagnostic technologies and techniques used to assess cellular and subcellular pathology. The rotations are designed to acquaint students with the various laboratory techniques used in tissue processing, routine histology techniques, and special testing procedures. The specialized testing procedures include rotations through immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostic studies and electron microscopy in various laboratory settings. Credit: 22, Knutson, Perkinson, and staff

PATHASST 221 - Introduction to Surgical Pathology-Duke. This is the initial practical rotation conducted during the first summer session. It is designed to re-acquaint students with the techniques of gross dissection, descriptions, and submission of tissue samples from surgical specimens, focusing on small biopsy specimens and building on concepts presented in PATHASST 204. It runs concurrently with PATHASST 222, and is designed to introduce students to the variations and differences between a university medical center and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Service. 2 credits. Bentley, Topper, and staff.

PATHASST 222 - Introduction to Surgical Pathology-DVAMC. This is the initial practical rotation conducted during the first summer session complimenting PATHASST 221. It presents students with the techniques of gross dissection, descriptions, and submission of tissue samples from surgical specimens processed at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s (DVAMC) Surgical Pathology Service. Emphasis is placed on the close interaction with the attending pathologist, pathology resident and their interactions with the surgical team. Students are introduced to tissue triage, slide preparation, frozen section technique and case sign-out logistics, comparing the variations and differences between a university medical center and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Services. 2 credits. Lark and staff.

PATHASST 302- Forensic Pathology. This is a practical rotation at the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner observing and participating (on a limited basis) with forensic pathologists performing medical-legal autopsies. 2 credits. Aurelius, Mahan, and staff.

PATHASST 321 (Duke), 322 (DVAMC) - Surgical Pathology I - Duke and DVAMC. These courses run concurrently during the fall semester of the second year, and are meant to be complimentary. They are practical rotations on the Duke University and Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Services respectively, building on the techniques and skills taught in PATHASST 221 and 222. Students also participate in enrichment experiences at an external rotation site during these courses. These courses consist of continuing laboratory training in the orientation, description, and dissection of gross surgical specimens with special emphasis on frozen section technique, tissue triage and the role of the PA and their interaction with the attending pathologist and pathology resident following many of the cases through to sign-out by the pathologist at the DVAMC. 4 credits each. Bentley, Huening, Topper, and staff.

PATHASST 323, 324 - Autopsy Pathology I, II. These practical rotations during the second year present a detailed consideration of the morphologic, physiologic, and biochemical manifestations of disease. The courses include gross dissection, histologic examinations, processing, and analyzing of all autopsy findings under tutorial supervision. 4 credits each course or 8 total credits. Glass, Hennessey, and staff.

PATHASST 330 - Autopsy Practicum. This is the final autopsy rotation completed during the summer of the second year of training. Students must perfect their dissection skills, demonstrate the ability to conduct full autopsy prosections in all possible situations, and write full preliminary autopsy reports. In addition, special dissection skills are taught in this course. 3 credits. Glass, Hennessey, and staff.

PATHASST 331 (Duke), 332 (DVAMC) - Surgical Pathology II - Duke and DVAMC. These courses run concurrently during the spring semester of the second year, and are meant to be complimentary. They are continuing, practical rotations on the Duke University and Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Surgical Pathology Services respectively, building on the techniques and skills taught in PATHASST 221, 222, 321and 322. These courses consist of continuing laboratory training in the orientation, description, and dissection of gross surgical specimens with special emphasis on the role of the PA and their interaction with the attending pathologist and pathology resident, following many of the cases through to sign-out by the pathologist at the DVAMC. Students also participate in enrichment experiences at one or more external rotation sites during these courses. 7 credits for 331, 4 credits for 332. Bentley, Lark, Topper, and staff.

PATHASST 340, 341 - Photography I, II. This is an introduction to medical photography. Students become familiar with photography equipment and the fundamentals of gross specimen photography. 1 credit for PATHASST 340 and 2 credits for PATHASST 341. Conlon

PATHASST 351 (Duke), 352  (DVAMC)  -Surgical Pathology Practicum-Duke and DVAMC. These are the final surgical pathology rotations completed during the summer of the second year of training both at Duke and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Students must perfect their dissection skills and demonstrate the ability to orient, dissect, describe, and submit appropriate tissue samples from all commonly encountered surgical pathology specimens. Students also participate in a one week enrichment experience at an external rotation site during these courses. 2 credits each. Bentley, Lark, Topper, and staff.

PATHASST 359 - Laboratories Technologies and Management. Students are presented with fundamentals of laboratory management to include regulatory and compliance issues, basic management techniques, laboratory safety and infection control in lectures and practical applications, as well as practical applications of fine needle aspiration and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Credit: 2.  Johnson, Wagner and Department of Pathology faculty and staff.

PATHASST 361, 362 - Pathologic Basis of Clinical Medicine I, II. This course consists of lectures and seminars by the departments of Pathology and Medicine faculty emphasizing both basic science and systemic pathologic topics. 3 credits each course. Department of Pathology and Medicine faculty.

PATHASST 390- Senior Seminar. Students complete an independent study under the supervision of a Department of Pathology faculty member or senior pathology resident. The focus of the seminar is to present an autopsy case, including research of the disease process to correlate with case findings, stains and testing to contribute to the findings, and photographic documentation to demonstrate the findings and disease process. Each student will perform their seminar presentations before the PA Program administration and Department of Pathology faculty and staff. Credit: 2, Johnson, Conlon and staff.

The major facilities supporting this program are the classrooms, laboratories, and libraries of the Duke School of Medicine, and the Autopsy and Surgical Pathology Laboratories at Duke University Hospital and the Durham Veterans Affairs Hospital. The pathology laboratories provide exposure to nearly 400 autopsies and over 55,000 surgical pathology accessions.

The Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education (TSC) is a six-story, 104,000-square-foot health education building centrally located on the medical center campus, close to Duke University Hospital, laboratory and research buildings, medical clinics, the Duke Cancer Center and the Duke Medicine Pavilion. Featuring a floor dedicated to simulation laboratories that can transform from mock clinical exam rooms to surgery suites and emergency rooms, the Trent Semans Center also includes a ground floor auditorium, a learning hall, and flexible, state-of-the-art classrooms with moveable walls and chairs to accommodate team-based activities. Spaces on the third and fourth floors provide dedicated study rooms for students and areas where faculty and trainees can meet informally.

The Medical Center Library & Archives is in the Seeley G. Mudd Building, above the Searle Center and connected to the Trent Semans Center for Health Education. The Library & Archives provides the services and collections necessary to further educational, research, clinical, and administrative activities in the medical field. Services are available to faculty, staff, students, and housestaff from Duke Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, allied health programs, and graduate programs in the basic medical sciences as well as the Duke University Health System. The Library has hundreds of electronic databases and thousands of health sciences journal titles available electronically, though some of the older years may not be accessible online. The print journal collection and books published before 1995 are stored off-site at the Duke Library Service Center. More current print books are kept within the library facility and are available for checkout. The Frank Engel Memorial Collection consists of books on health and nonmedical subjects for general reading as well as newspapers and popular magazines. Library services include reference, in-depth consultations, expert database searching, customized training, and online tutorials. Workstations for searching databases, the catalog, and other resources are available, along with a variety of study spaces and rooms for online booking and a computer classroom for hands-on training.

In addition, students participate in external rotations at the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, N.C., and the surgical pathology laboratories of the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, N.C.

All students receive a new laptop computer and tablet on entry. Each student is assigned an individual carrel in a dedicated PA student office that is wired for on line services. Internet, Medline, and e-mail addresses are provided for each student. Support is provided by Medical Education Information Technology (MedEdIT) which has a service desk located in the Seeley Mudd/Medical Center Library building, with trained technicians available 8-5 PM Monday-Friday to assist with any technical support needs. MedEdIT can also be reached at: mededit_helpdesk@duke.edu.