The Department of Pathology

Medical Student Education

Third and Fourth-Year Electives

PAT2-4010/F GENERAL PATHOLOGY - KNOX (Not available during block 7)
Course Coordinator: Paul Eberts, MD
Location: University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville) and Regional Forensic Center, 2761 Sullins Street, Knoxville, TN 37919 (ph: 865-215-8000)
Maximum Class Size: 2 Student (REQUIRES ADVANCE APPROVAL)

Advance registration is required. Students must call Knoxville Student Affairs at least 3 blocks prior to registering. The goal of the General Pathology (with Forensic/Autopsy Pathology exposure) course is to provide an overview of the function of Anatomic Pathology (AP) and Clinical Pathology (CP) within the Department of Pathology at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and provide exposure to Forensic Pathology at the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. The objectives for this course are to understand the function of the pathology "gross" room, understand the Surgical Pathology "sign-out" procedure, learn to order and interpret laboratory tests for common clinical situations, gain an understanding of the operation of the major sections of a modern clinical laboratory, understand the role of pathology/ pathologists' participation in the medical center, learn how a regional forensic center operates, and gain an understanding of autopsy procedures. Students will participate in regular teaching activities of the Pathology Department including daily lectures, demonstrations, and conferences. Students will learn the role of the pathologist in patient care by observing procedures such as fine needle aspirations, bone marrows, frozen sections and processing surgical specimens. At the beginning of the rotation, a customized schedule will be made for the student to include exposure to the following major subdivisions of pathology: Surgical Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Hematopathology, Blood Banking, Microbiology, and Cytology. At the Regional Forensic Center, students will participate in the morning report conducted at 7:00 a.m.  Forensic pathology is a medical sub-specialty that applies medical knowledge in order to answer questions that arise in the legal system regarding an individual's death. Forensic pathologists have received additional medical training in order to make determinations regarding the cause of death, the manner of death, the mechanism(s) of death, the timing of injury and death, and how injuries occurred.  Forensic pathologists collect evidence from the body and personal property and give expert testimony.  The medico legal autopsy is a powerful tool at the disposal of the forensic pathologist to answer these questions, in addition to review of the medical records, scene circumstances, toxicology, and other ancillary studies. Students are required to give a brief presentation at the end of the rotation on a topic in clinical or anatomic pathology under the guidance of the chief resident and clerkship director. Upon conclusion of the elective, the student will have a better understanding of the practice of pathology in a university medical center and the practice of forensic pathology at a regional forensic center.

For more information or to schedule an elective, please contact Medical Student Education, or email students@utmck.edu.