Duke University School of Medicine - Aesculapian Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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PATHOLOGT Pathology has been defined as the science which deals with the causes, mechanisms of development and effects of disease. It is the bridge between basic medical science and clinical practice, and the study of Pathology pro- vides the student with his fsirst experiences in his life long study-disease. At a medical school such as Duke much of the departmental effort is devoted to the teach- ing of Pathology to medical students. In addition, because of the large amount of surgical and autopsy material available at Duke, it is possible to maintain a very active graduate training program. Young physi- cians who choose to specialize in Pathology or who wish to receive further grounding in the basic fundaments of disease before entering a clinical speciality spend from one to four years in the department as a member of the house staff. At this stage the training is pre- dominantly by the apprentice approach with close asso- ciation between the resident and senior members of the department. Usually after a period of four years of such training, the resident is eligible for certification by the American Board of Pathology. During this period of training the residents in pathology gain teaching experience so that the majority of those who complete this training continue to hold an academic position in pathology either at Duke or some other medical school. Those residents who go into a clinical specialty after a shorter period of graduate training in Pathology have the security of a fuller and more precise knowledge of disease. Harvey Cushing once wrote that apprentice- ship in the pathological laboratories always has been and always will be the only way to reach the very top either for the surgeon or physicianf' and William Osler claimed that successful knowledge of the infinite variations of disease can only be obtained by a prolonged study of morbid anatomy. ' 'Q' ff .- ' f H'-'Ea,721, . -- ., v 1 V f f.. I 'g - if- 2' cy , - 'QQ , 'Q 0 ' 9 X5 f yfff f, f 5 ff j f 7 ' , V 1 1 I I JSM? .. 1 fyffff f f f rg,-72 1 , 4 fl? QV? , ji. f 'f V A f-f ,WW gf I Jia. I3 ian N A ian I7iz'i 1'iaiz DR. K I N N Ii Y The Practitioner of Pathology specializes in the prac- tice of laboratory medicine for the purpose of providing physicians and surgeons with the scientific information they must have in order to treat their patients most efficiently and successfully. The hospital pathologist is responsible for the identification of the disease process in the surgical specimen removed at operation and for the Final diagnosis at the autopsy table. In many hospitals he also may supervise the laboratories of clinical chemis- try, hematology, and bacteriology as well as the blood bank. The pathologist works in close cooperation with the patient's physician in arriving at a diagnosis and Dia. DONALD B. HACKEL twenty

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Research in the Department can be viewed as directed toward two such frontiers. First, the goal of much of the work is to increase our understanding of the molecu- lar basis of fundamental physiological processes, such as muscular contraction, nerve conduction, active trans- port, and cell division. The second frontier involves the analysis of complex integrated physiological functions such as the mechanics of respiration, the activity of the hrain, etc., with the use of modern analogue and digital computer techniques. In providing for the communication of ideas in Physi- ology and Pharmacology, the Department recognizes a primary responsibility to provide the hest possihle in- struction to First and second year medical students. In addition, it offers a vigorous educational program for graduate students who are candidates for the l'h.D. degree in Physiology or Pharmacology. The graduate program involves a general course in Physiology and Pharmacology taught from the literature, as well as courses in selected advanced aspects ol' lvoth disciplines. The advanced courses are also open to third and fourth year medical students as well as postdoctoral students. In collahoration with the Department of Electrical Engi- neering, the Department of Physiology and Pharma- cology offers a training program in Biomedical Engi- neering. The Department is also active in promoting the development of more vigorous teaching in the areas of clinical physiology and clinical pharmacology. D.-txiiit. Tos'rEsoN, M.D. ChLlliI'771L1IZ of the Deprzrtnzwzt nineteen

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assisting with the patient's treatment hy furnishing laboratory tests which aid in determining eilectiveness of the patient's therapy. No specialist is called upon for consultation hy others as frequently as is the hospital pathologist. All universities have as one of their chief responsi- bilities the development, dissemination, and application of new knowledge in the various fields of learning. For this reason, the Department of Pathology at Duke Uni- versity maintains an extensive research program. Every ellort is made to provide opportunities lor students and residents to participate in hasic research programs and to develop their own skills and interests in the field. This gives the imaginative young doctor a chance to explore unknown areas of medicine. Research oilt-rs a maior challenge to the physician who desires the eiccitel ment of discovery for experimental medicine is one ol the truly genuine adventures. Ti-iosms D. KINNHY, M.D. Clltlllfllltlfl of the Depizrtnzcnl llUElIl'y-OIIC'