Master Of Medicine In Human Pathology (Mmed Path)

Background

The role of the pathologist is to provide laboratory information to aid in disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Pathologists also provide laboratory information for disease surveillance. Modern pathology practice is closely linked with all other clinical departments, providing a continuum from disease onset to it’s end.

Pathology plays a central role in patient care. The paucity of pathologist in resource poor countries continues to pose a challenge to effective health care delivery as diagnosis and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases is compromised.

The Master of Medicine in Pathology (MMED Path) programme offers broad training in the disciplines of anatomic pathology, forensic pathology, immunology, medical microbiology, clinical chemistry, haematology and blood transfusion.  Graduates of this program are general pathologists who have the capacity to provide pathology services in all levels of clinical laboratories and to engage in relevant research. The training forms a foundation for subspecialisation in all branches of pathology.

Philosophy

Pathology is the bridging discipline in medicine, being both a basic and clinical discipline. The pathology program

Pathology is the study of disease, and utilization of this knowledge for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases. This course will equip learners with knowledge and skills required to provide general pathology and laboratory services, including blood transfusion services.

Rationale

It is estimated that Kenya has only 2 pathologists/million of population compared to 10/million in South Africa and 45/million in the United Kingdom. This shortage of pathologists in Kenya is similar to that witnessed in many low resource sub-Saharan countries. Continued training of multiskilled general pathologists is necessary to offer Kenyans the highest attainable level of health care as provided in the constitution. Advances in medical science over the years coupled with emergence of diseases like HIV/AIDS and the escalating demand for forensic pathology services has greatly broadened the scope of pathology practice. In addition there has been an increasing demand for pathologists equipped with leadership and management skills. The program was recently strengthened by incorporating new content such as molecular pathology, forensic medicine as well as laboratory leadership and management. An attachment was also added to expose the learner to experiential practical learning in a setting of their choice, under the guidance of a pathologist.  

Objective 

i) Equip  students  with  competences  for provision  of  effective  and  appropriate  modern   pathology  services  in  the  disciplines  of  anatomic  and  forensic pathology,   immunopathology,  clinical chemistry,  medical microbiology,  haematology  and  blood   transfusion

ii)  Impart in    students  requisite  professional qualities,  etiquette  and  ethics essential  for   delivery  of  human  pathology  services   

iii) Instil in  students  ability  for  life-long    self  learning,  critical thinking,  research  and  the   capacity  to  translate  research  into  practice  and  policy   

iv) Equip  students  with  competences in  laboratory  leadership  and  management.   

 

Contact of Support Person

For any assistance contact the Secretary, Office of the Chair, Department of Human Pathology 

Telephone: 0204915048

E-mail: dept-hpathology@uonbi.ac.ke 

or pay us a visit at Kenyatta National Hospital Campus, University of Nairobi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Pathology.  https://humanpathology.uonbi.ac.ke/basic-page/physical-location