Pathology- exploring human disease

[shinny]

In terms of options should you not get into the MD, pathology doesn't really have more per se than micro/immuno. You can always not do breadth in 3rd year and take subjects from both (or if in Biomedicine, do the Defense and Disease major if you're keen).

As for why it's more relevant, two reasons (this is my opinion). One is that pathology is almost universally taught badly because of the nature of the content. And two is that in the first year of the MD, there are far more people wishing they'd studied micro than path. You can, in theory, pick up pathology quickly if you understand the basics as per my comment earlier about getting the fundamentals down. I spend pathology practicals working with some friends rather than sticking solely with the prescribed notes because it works for us better that way.

In contrast, microbiology (and immunology) is a clusterfuck of specific information eg; know that E coli stains gram negative, is a rod, is a lactose fermenter and grows pink on MAC agar, is 80% of UTI infections etc. And then repeat for other organisms. And then throw the immune system in and it gets even worse. I'd rather have the knowledge base for the very specific information that just requires memorization than the conceptual stuff that requires a deeper understanding.

I'd probably second this. A good knowledge of microbiology helps you clinically as a doctor - understanding infections and antibiotic choice is useful no matter what speciality you end up in. A detailed knowledge of pathology is more for research and fending off questions from the consultant on ward rounds. Pathology is useful for certain specialities though - haematology and well, pathology itself obviously come to mind.

[paulsterio]

Two most painful aspects of med so far for me are microbiology and pharmacology.

Like I say, too many bugs and too many drugs

I would even say that the conceptual stuff becomes easier once you actually memorise a fair bit of it, so you can actually read and get what they're talking about.

[jasrulz63]

We covered at least half of this stuff in like 10 lectures in biomed... the pace is ridiculous, but the standalone subject probably isn't so bad.  Then again, Vicki Lawson probably takes it, so it would still be bad.

Pathology was only 22 lectures for the semester (2 lectures a week + mid-sem and review), so covering half the stuff in 10 lectures makes sense 

[simpak]

Do micro/immuno lawl.

[Cuddlekins]

haha a few negative feedbacks for pathology :S
i hope the lecturer Vicki isnt too bad...

@mavis: how did you find micro? I had some friends doing it and was absolutely overwhlemed by the content and memorisation

On another note, what do you guys think about taking pharmacology? In relation to job prospects? The majors im considering are physiology/pathology or pharmacology


Thanks

[simpak]

Micro was alright, there was so much to memorise and a lot of rote learning which is part of the reason that I'm not convinced I want to major in it. I liked microbial genetics, immunology and stuff like that because there was more about understanding concepts and I found it really interesting. But just memorising the kind of stuff Russ listed before about the specific properties of different microbes was difficult and a bit of a drainer, yet possible. A lot of people failed the midsem (though I don't understand why) because I think people didn't take what we were learning seriously. But to be honest, the multiple choice (which makes up 40% of your final mark by the end of it) is just all memorising facts so if you have difficulty picking what's wrong in a trick question you will have difficulty succeeding in MIIM20001. The practical subject was also pretty difficult at times, not doing the pracs but writing the reports in the way they wanted and the practical exam was so time stressed (I don't want my result back for that subject).

I think they're changing the prac subject next semester/year though to be somewhat computer based in addition to true prac work which will be interesting. All in all, an interesting field and I can see the benefit in majoring in it because there are a lot of interesting research opportunities for honours and a PhD. I can imagine myself enjoying doing that after my Bachelor. However, I still don't know if I would enjoy taking Micro as much as I would Physiology. I really don't want to surrender to a Physiology major because it's such a stereotypical "I'm pre-med1!11!" major and seems a little bit useless but I just love it so so much >: