University Catalog 2023-2024

MD - Mechanism of Disease (PATH)

MD - Mechanism of Disease (PATH)

PATH 1111  Pathology Summer Course  (14)  

T1 & T2 summer courses may be required for students who need to remediate pre-clinical coursework. Contact your course director for more information. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 2002  Mechnms of Disease  (14)  

The Mechanisms of Disease course is designed to help students develop an understanding of the causes and mechanisms of disease and the associated structure and function. Students are expected to develop the skills of observation, interpretation, and integration needed to analyze human disease. Specifically, when provided with the clinical history, the anatomic lesions, and the laboratory data of a patient, students are expected to determine the most likely diagnosis and explain the pathogenesis of the disease. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 2003  Advances in Pathology Research  (1)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 2004  Mechanisms of Disease - MS  (5)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4000  Pathology  (4)  

The Pathology elective introduces the medical student to the field of pathology. The elective runs for four weeks with a choice of 2 weeks each in Surgical pathology, Cytopathology, Dermatopathology or Hematopathology. The student will participate in the pathology rotation at TMC and will experience the spectrum of responsibilities of a pathologist including interactions with clinicians. This includes but is not limited to gross prosections, microscopic evaluation, frozen section evaluations, ancillary techniques, and histologic diagnosis with differential diagnostic considerations. The student will work closely with the pathology residents and faculty on service. The student will attend tumor boards. This elective runs Monday through Friday and begins at approximately 8:00 am and ends at approximately 5:00 pm each weekday. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4040  Pathology Research   (4)  

This course is an independent research elective for students in their clinical years: students must identify a faculty PI and negotiate content and deliverables with the faculty. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4210  Cytopathology  (2)  

In this elective, students will learn the value of the clinical application of cytopathology to include: diagnosis, differential diagnosis, ancillary tests and therapy. Students will learn to understand the clinical significance of morphologic changes in healthy and diseased cells from cytologic examination of gynecologic and non-gynecologic specimens, including superficial and deep fine needle aspirations. Students will participate in the fine needle aspiration service as well as daily cytology sign-out. Student will work closely with the cytology fellow, resident and staff cytopathologist. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4220  Dermpathology   (2)  

The dermatopathology elective introduces the medical student to the field of dermatopathology, a subspecialty of anatomic pathology and dermatology. During this elective, the student will participate in the dermatopathology service and will experience the spectrum of responsibilities including interactions with clinicians. This includes microscopic evaluation, ancillary techniques, and histologic diagnosis with differential diagnostic considerations. The student will work closely with the Dermatopathology fellows, pathology residents and faculty on service. The clerkship runs for two weeks, Monday through Friday and begins at approximately 8:00 a.m. and ends at approximately 5:00 p.m. each weekday. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4230  Hematopathology  (2)  

Students will encounter about 20 new cases, involving CBC's, blood smears, bone marrow biopsies, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, coagulation studies, hemoglobin electrophoresis and protein electrophoresis. The student will gather pertinent clinical history on assigned cases, and preview slides with the hematopathology fellow. At each afternoon's sign-out with the faculty and fellow, the student will have the opportunity to present their brief case histories and to summarize the laboratory data at hand. Morphologic evaluation and case interpretation will take place during sign-out. The student will also have an opportunity to observe specimen work-up in the flow cytometry lab. Every evening, the student will be given sample cases to solve that reflect the kinds of cases seen at sign-out. These exercises will be reviewed with the course director every morning. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4240  Surgical Pathology  (2)  

The Surgical Pathology elective introduces the medical student to the field of surgical pathology, a subspecialty of anatomic pathology. During this rotation, the student will participate in the surgical pathology rotation at either Tulane Medical Center or UMCNO and will experience the spectrum of responsibilities of a surgical pathologist including interactions with clinicians. This includes but is not limited to gross prosections, microscopic evaluation, frozen section evaluations, ancillary techniques, and histologic diagnosis with differential diagnostic considerations. The student will work closely with the pathology residents and faculty on service. The student will attend the tumor boards. The clerkship runs Monday through Friday and begins at approximately 8:00 am and ends at approximately 5:00 pm each weekday. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 4440  Surgical Pathology  (4)  

The Surgical Pathology elective introduces the medical student to the field of surgical pathology, a subspecialty of anatomic pathology. During this rotation, the student will participate in the surgical pathology rotation at either Tulane Medical Center and UMCNO and will experience the spectrum of responsibilities of a surgical pathologist including interactions with clinicians. This includes but is not limited to gross prosections, microscopic evaluation, frozen section evaluations, ancillary techniques, and histologic diagnosis with differential diagnostic considerations. The student will work closely with the pathology residents and faculty on service. The student will attend the tumor boards. The clerkship runs Monday through Friday and begins at approximately 8:00 am and ends at approximately 5:00 pm each weekday. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 5500  Clinical Preceptorship - Path  (1)  

Preceptorships are available to T1 & T2 students who are interested in the specialty. Students must identify a physician to shadow. Students must have their preceptorship approved in advance by the Senior Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 5540  Pathology Research  (1)  

5000-level research opportunities are available to T1 & T2 students who are interested in the specialty. Students must identify a faculty member with whom to conduct research. Students must have their research prospectus form approved in advance by the Senior Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 6100  Pathology Research Elective  (2,4)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 6200  Autopsy Pathology  (3)  

This course provides a foundation in autopsy pathology and includes instruction in medical and forensic autopsy pathology, as well as perinatal and pediatric autopsy pathology. This course is designed to prepare pathologists' assistant students for their autopsy practicum.

PATH 6210  Surgical Pathology Techniques  (4)  

This is the first of three sequential courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Surgical Pathology Techniques Laboratory course.

PATH 6211  Surgical Pathology Lab  (2)  

This is the first of three sequential courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Surgical Pathology Techniques lecture course. Corequisite(s): PATH 6210.

Corequisite(s): PATH 6210.

PATH 6220  Adv Surgical Path Tech I  (4)  

This is the second of three sequential courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Advanced Surgical Pathology Techniques Laboratory course. Corequisite(s): PATH 6221.

Corequisite(s): PATH 6221.

PATH 6221  Adv Surgical Path Lab I  (2)  

This is the second of three sequential laboratory courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Advanced Surgical Pathology Techniques lecture course. Corequisite(s): PATH 6220.

Corequisite(s): PATH 6220.

PATH 6230  Adv Surgical Path Tech II  (4)  

This is the third of three sequential courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Advanced Surgical Pathology Techniques Laboratory course. Corequisite(s): PATH 6231.

Corequisite(s): PATH 6231.

PATH 6231  Adv Surgical Path Lab II  (2)  

This is the third of three sequential courses designed for Pathologists' Assistant students. This course provides a connection between the didactic coursework of the first-year curriculum and its application to the practice of surgical pathology by Pathologists' Assistants in the clinical setting. This class is taken in conjunction with the corresponding Advanced Surgical Pathology Techniques lecture course. Corequisite(s): PATH 6230.

Corequisite(s): PATH 6230.

PATH 6240  Pathologist's Assistant Seminar  (1)  

This course is designed to provide pathologists’ assistant students with a foundation in working within an interprofessional healthcare team. This course focuses on medical ethics, interdisciplinary communication, and practices of professional conduct through team activities and group discussions.

Course Limit: 2

PATH 6270  Surgical Pathology Practicum  (1)  

This is a practical course in surgical pathology that prepares students for their clinical rotations in surgical pathology during the second-year curriculum. Students will rotate at Tulane Medical Center pathology lab under the guidance of Tulane pathologists' assistants, pathology residents, and pathologists. Students will watch and perform (under guidance) the duties of a Pathologists' Assistant. Emphasis will be placed on developing the student's skills of gross tissue description, dissection, and frozen section preparation.

Course Limit: 2

PATH 6280  Autopsy Pathology Practicum  (1)  

This is a practical course in autopsy pathology that prepares students for their clinical rotations in autopsy pathology during the second-year curriculum. Students will rotate at Tulane Medical Center pathology lab under the guidance of Tulane pathologists' assistants, pathology residents, and pathologists. Students will watch and perform (under guidance) the duties of a Pathologists' Assistant. Emphasis will be placed on developing the student's skills of autopsy technique including evisceration and block dissection.

Course Limit: 2

PATH 6300  Mechanisms of Disease 1  (5)  

The course integrates the study of the nature of disease with the structural and functional changes that accompany those disease processes. This course is for graduate students and not intended for medical students.

PATH 6310  Mechanisms of Disease 2  (5)  

This course follows Mechanisms of Disease 1. It is intended for graduate students and not intended for medical students.

PATH 6400  Molec & Cellular PATH  (4)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 7200  Anatomic Pathology Clerkship  (12)  

This is a twelve-month practical course sequence that forms the curriculum of the second year of the Pathologists' Assistant program. Students rotate through various clinical sites and perform the duties of a Pathologists' Assistant under the guidance of a preceptor. Emphasis is placed on developing the student's skills of gross tissue description, dissection, and frozen section preparation in surgical pathology. Emphasis is placed on autopsy techniques including evisceration and block dissection in autopsy pathology.

Course Limit: 3

PATH 7600  Cancer Biology and Pathology  (3)  

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 9000  Pathology Visiting Student  (4)  

This rotation is available only to visiting MD students, from US schools of medicine, in the clinical phase of their training: Tulane SOM does not accept visiting students from international schools of medicine. Visiting MD students must apply through AAMC's VSAS system to be eligible to enroll; pre-clinical visiting MD students are not eligible. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 9020  Pathology Visiting Student  (2)  

This rotation is available only to visiting MD students, from US schools of medicine, in the clinical phase of their training: Tulane SOM does not accept visiting students from international schools of medicine. Visiting MD students must apply through AAMC's VSAS system to be eligible to enroll; pre-clinical visiting MD students are not eligible. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.


Maximum Hours: 99

PATH 9980  Pathology Master's Research  (6)  

Master's Research is mandatory for students in the 2-year M.S. in Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology program to conduct research to fulfill the thesis requirement. It is the student's responsibility to choose a Pathology faculty member as the thesis advisor by the end of the second semester. It is expected that the student spend a minimum of 20 hours a week working on the thesis project. The thesis is expected to be completed in two semesters and must be approved by a thesis committee, consisting of three faculty members.