PATHOLOGY

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This session provides participants with an understanding of pathology and how it fits into the overall health care profession.

Category

  • Health
  • Clinical Pathology

Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the role of a clinical pathologist.
  • Discuss the educational requirements of a clinical pathologist.
  • Discover opportunities within the field of pathology.
  • Identify the differences between bacterial and viral infections.
  • Understand blood typing.
  • Tour a pathology laboratory.

Supplies

  • Laptop computer or equipment to view videos

PREPARATION

  • If using the blood typing game for Activity 3, be sure to review tutorial 2 that is included on the game site (click on Main Menu at the top right corner and then click on the Read link next to “How do you determine a patient’s blood type?”).
  • Arrange for a speaker who is either a pathologist or a medical technologist.
  • Arrange for a tour of a pathology laboratory.

 

 

VIDEOS

REMINDER:

Any time you use an outside source, be sure you preview the content and follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

The following are suggested video resources that Advisors may find helpful in planning this session:

 

 

RESOURCES

REMINDER:

Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.

The following are suggested resources that Advisors may find helpful in planning this session:

Advisor Note

Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your post in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.

Activities

INTRODUCTION

Tell participants: Pathology studies the causes and effects of diseases. It is the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes. A medical doctor who specializes in interpreting and diagnosing the changes in tissues and body fluids is called a pathologist.

Activity 1

SPEAKER

Have a pathologist or medical technologist address these topics:

  • Overview of pathology
  • The role of the pathologist in the health care system
  • A typical day for a pathologist
  • Additional careers in pathology including specialized pathologist, medical technologist, and pathology assistant
  • Educational requirements involved in becoming a pathologist and recommendations for high school and college preparation
  • The future of pathology

Activity 2

BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

  • Explain briefly the differences between bacteria and viruses. Address any participant questions.
  • You may find “Relative Sizes of Bacteria and Viruses” from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to be a helpful resource.
  • Ask participants: Why this is important?

Activity 3

BLOOD TYPING

  • Ask participants whether anyone knows their blood type. Then discuss these questions:
    •  Do you know what the different blood types mean?
    •  Do you know the most common blood types?
    •      Do you know the rarest blood type?
    •  Do you know which blood type is considered the universal donor? Why is that?
  • Discuss the process of blood typing and the ABO blood typing system.
  • Consider sharing “Why Do Blood Types Matter?” from TED-Ed. Address any participant questions.
  • You may find “The Blood Typing Game” from Nobel Media to be a helpful resource.

Activity 4

TOUR

  • Tour a pathology laboratory.

Advisor Note

Some sample questions are below. They are designed to help the participants apply what they have learned to their own interests. You are welcome to use these questions or develop your own questions that relate to your post or specific focus area.

Reflection

Focusing Questions

  • What did you observe in the pathology laboratory?
  • Which pathology career do you find most interesting?
  • What new information did you learn about bacteria and viruses?
  • Why is blood typing so important?
  • What did you learn during today’s discussion?

Analysis Questions

  • Discuss feedback from the videos or hands-on practice.
  • What types of ethical issues do you think could arise related to pathology?

Generalization Questions

  • What can you do now, during your time as a student, to prepare yourself for this or a similar career in the medical field?
  • Why is this topic important?

 

 

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PATHOLOGY