A
Message from Michael J. O'Brien, MD, MPH
Chairman
Ad Interim
and
Adrianne
E. Rogers, MD
Associate
Chairman and Director of Graduate Studies
Welcome
to our department!
If
you dream of participating in breakthrough scientific research and contributing
to the advancement of biomedical knowledge, you're in the right place.
Pathology, the study of disease, integrates all aspects of biomedical
science to further the understanding of disease processes and develop
methods for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease. Our
department focuses particularly on cancer, immunologic and neurologic
disorders. We have a diverse faculty composed of core and joint
members and offer multiple research and training opportunities in experimental
pathology.
Current
foci of research by departmental faculty and students include:
Graduate
training opportunities offered by our department include a Master of
Arts program and a doctoral program for PhD and MD/PhD students. The
doctoral program is broadly based, offers research training in both
basic and clinical investigations of disease and encourages students
to integrate the two areas where appropriate in their doctoral research.
The core curriculum provides course, seminar and laboratory opportunities
for students to learn the pathogenesis, morphology and cell and molecular
biology of human diseases and laboratory techniques used to study them.
Laboratories of faculty in the department and other faculty in
the Division of Medical Science provide opportunities for dissertation
research in many aspects of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment
of disease. In addition to the core program in experimental pathology,
the department offers three interdepartmental degree programs:
pathology-immunology, pathology-cell and molecular biology, and pathology-neuroscience.
Students are expected to fulfill all course requirements, choose
a dissertation laboratory and begin preparatory dissertation research
within 4 semesters. They then take the qualifying examination
and, if successful, present a dissertation research proposal to their
faculty committee and proceed with their research. Students in
the alternative tracks follow a modified curriculum in which certain
departmental requirements are substituted by requirements of the respective
interdepartmental program. The Master of Arts in Pathology Program
focuses on the basic science and laboratory techniques of anatomic pathology
and related disciplines. Graduates will be prepared to work in
basic science, biotechnology and other biomedical research laboratories
designing, performing, and evaluating research using methods based on
morphology. Students learn to prepare and evaluate animal or human
cells and tissues for the effects of test compunds, devices or proceduar
using morphologic methods. With growing use and development of
highly sophisticated morpholigical techniques, the demand for well-trained
technical personnel in academic and biotechnological laboratories is
growing. Students interested in careers thtat involve technical
work using morphological techniques to examine tissues from patients
or laboratory animals will benefit from this program.
Our
faculty members are committed to facilitating students' efficient progress
through our graduate programs, in a goal-oriented manner. The
student group is enthusiastic and interactive. And our graduates
pursue careers in academia, biotechnology settings, government laboratories
and, if also medically trained, in clinical specialties.
We
invite you to explore our web site for further information and hope
to see you at our campus.
Michael
J. O'Brien, Chairman ad interim
Adrianne
E. Rogers, MD, Associate Chairman and Graduate Director
