First and Second Year Teaching
The Department of Pathology is involved in pre-clinical medical student education in the Discovery Phase of Vista and provides them with their first formal encounter with disease. The Discovery Phase occurs during the first 18 months of the curriculum and is organized into integrated courses (blocks). The first 2 blocks cover basic biomedical principles. The remainder of the Discovery Phase is grouped into blocks that integrate normal and abnormal structure and function in each of the major organ systems. All Discovery blocks are linked by Longitudinal Biomedical Topic (LBT) “threads” that reinforce key information and concepts taught in each block.
Pathology teaching occurs in all blocks and is integrated throughout and between blocks via the LBTs. Pathology instruction includes lectures, independent learning modules, case-based discussions and laboratories, and includes participation by departmental faculty and residents.
A more detailed description of the Discovery Phase courses in Vista is here:
https://www.umassmed.edu/oume/curriculum/Vista-Curriculum/discovery-phase/vista-course-descriptions/
Pathology Observerships
The pathology department offers a variety of options for pathology observerships for both UMass Chan medical students as well as medical students from other accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the US.
Shadow-day:
Available for first and second year, UMass Chan medical students only. Students in the Discovery Phase of Vista may arrange a “shadow-day” with one of the pathology faculty. This provides an opportunity for the student to see what pathologists do in their day-to-day life, and the important role they play in patient care, practice lifestyle, etc. Typically, the observership experience would occur for one or two days depending on the student’s and faculty’s availability and schedule.
Interested students can reach out to their pathology faculty mentor in their learning community, or to Dr. Jennifer Clark, director of pathology clerkships.