.:: Divisions of the Department ::.
1- DIVISION OF ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY
Division of Anatomy and Histology is one of the Divisions of Department of Biomedical Sciences.
The division aims in achieving the educational goals and objectives of anatomy, histology, embryology, and neuroanatomy included in different blocks of the GMCA curriculum in addition to some elective courses (Anatomy in vivo, radiological anatomy, Electron microscopy, Stem cells therapy). The study material is designed not only to give the basic knowledge but also to impart their clinical and functional correlation to students and how this information used in clinical pracxtice.
The Division also conducts the following courses:
Anatomy and Histology for Clinical Pharmacy.
Integral Health Science Module (Participation)
The Division comprises different Labs (Anatomy, neuroanatomy, histology) which are well equipped with good facilities. There are also experienced faculty and technical staff to meet the objective of the blocks.
The anatomy Lab facilities include a large Anatomy dissection Hall, with mortuary. The teaching and learning resources have human cadavers, human dissected specimens, Plastic models, and human plastinated specimen and some museum jars. Further learning resources include anatomy C.D's and movies. There are also audiovisual teaching facilities within the Dissection Hall.
We are planning to enhance our audiovisual anatomy resource center.
The neuroscience Lab is a separate facility containing Stereo microscope, Multi-head teaching microscope with CCTV, human brain dissected specimen, plastinated brain slices and plastic models. We are developing this lab into future neurobiology research lab.
The histology lab is fully equipped with instruments for tissue processing. It has enough student microscopes. For large group teaching there is computerized coolscope, and for small group teaching two multi-head microscopes.
In addition, we have research facilities as transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope and confocal microscope with their preparation units.
2- DIVISION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MEDICAL GENETICS
The Division of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics is one Division of Biomedical Sciences Department at the College of Medicine. It is committed to provide outstanding teaching and optimum academic environment in the biochemical & medical genetics sciences. According to the new curriculum-GMCA 2012, the courses designed not only to give the basic knowledge for different blocks but also to impart their clinical and functional correlation to students.
Furthermore, the Division of Biochemistry & Medical Genetic contribute to solution of scientific and medicals problems facing the development plans in the kingdom.
The staff members of our Division conduct teaching of:
· biochemistry subjects to the students of the College of Biomedical Engineering at the University of King Faial in the first semester of each year since 3 years.
· biochemistry & Genetics to the students of the College of Dentistry, in the first semester of each academic year since 4 years.
In addition, Master of Science (M. Sc.) program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, as a postgraduate studies, has started since 5 years at our Division. The staff members of this Division teach and supervise to M. Sc. Students. The M. Sc. Program as well as is designed to prepare students to undertake independent research, hold academic positions in Biochemistry and Molecular biology departments as well as work in medical laboratories and industry.
3- DIVISION OF PATHOLOGY
Pathology is a science which deals with the study of disease in terms of etiology, pathogenesis, structural and functional alterations of disease (morphology, molecular and genetic changes), and finally its clinical significance. Pathology is divided into two sections: general pathology, and systemic pathology.
The division of Pathology is one of the busiest divisions among the department of Biomedical Sciences. The division aims in achieving the educational goals and objectives of the courses to the maximum. The courses are designed to deliver basic knowledge of pathology and its correlation with clinical sciences to students.
The division delivers multiple topics in the current integrated, problem-based curriculum (GMCA) of College of Medicine, including topics in several blocks in the form of theme lectures, multiple workshops, and a clinical pathology elective course.
The division faculty are also involved in multiple teaching activities of various blocks throughout the year in the form of small group teaching sessions taken as tutor, coach, mentor, and communication skills sessions.
In addition, the division also undertakes teaching of basic pathology to students of College of Dentistry, as well as teaching of basic Hematology course to the Masters (MSc) students of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program, currently held at College of Medicine.
The division has an excellent spacious lab facility, with experienced faculty and technical staff to meet the objective of the courses. The lab facility is currently shared with histology and is fully equipped with instruments for tissue processing, staining, and slide preparation, including photomicrography.
For student teaching, it has enough student microscopes and a multi-head teaching microscope with CCTV and LCD projector for computer-based learning. It also has several sets of slides and mounted gross specimens of various pathological conditions for demonstration purposes.
The division is also active in research and has few publications to their credit in association with other divisions and departments.
Currently, the division has a few ongoing research projects in collaboration with the division of Dermatology of the department of Internal Medicine.
4- DIVISION OF MICROBIOLOGY
The Division of Microbiology is a large Division under Department of Biomedical Sciences. The Division strives to impart the curricular requirements and educational excellence of undergraduate students in the field of Medical, Diagnostic and Clinical Microbiology, Parasitology, Virology and Mycology as well as Basic and Clinical Immunology. It facilitates the students to comprehend and explore the Medical, Diagnostic and Clinical aspects of Infections, Immunity and Immune Disorders, so that they can apply this in their Medical Practice in future. The goal is to equip students with substantive knowledge of Infectious Diseases and Immune Disorders and dealing with such diseases in their Clinical Practice. The academic activities of the Division are carried out in alignment with the Curriculum objective.
The Division has following subspecialties
· Microbiology (Bacteriology, Virology and Mycology)
· Immunology
· Parasitology
The Division has a well-equipped Laboratory for undergraduate practical teaching and Research. The Laboratory has all the state-of-the-art instruments for conventional Bacterial and Fungal Cultivation and Antimicrobial Testing as well as an automated bacterial identification machine, Vitek from Biomeurix. ELISA reader and washer, PCR thermocyclers, Electrophoresis machine, transilluminator for documenting the electrophoresed gel and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophorsesis machine are the other important instruments in the Microbiology Laboratory. In the Practical sessions the undergraduate students learn several practically relevant skills including: diagnostic sample collection, bacterial cultivation and antibiotic sensitivity testing, Principles, Performance and Interpretation of Serological and Diagnostic Immunology tests, Diagnostic Parasitology Procedures as well as Principles, Performance and interpretation of Diagnostic Molecular Biology tests like PCR.
The Division has well qualified, experienced and dedicated Faculty. The Division has ongoing/completed Scientific Research Projects. The Laboratory technologists are highly skilled and well trained to perform all the operational and maintenance procedures in the Laboratory.
5- DIVISION OF PHARMACOLOGY
Division of pharmacology is a distinguished unit of Department of Biomedical Sciences. The division is providing excellent teaching and training for the medical graduate students. The broad goal of teaching pharmacology is to inculcate a rational and scientific basis of therapeutics. On successful completion of the course student should be able to prescribe appropriate drugs for common ailments with consideration of safety, efficacy, special medical situations (e.g. pregnancy, infancy etc.) and the cost of therapy.
The course is also designed to provide practical knowledge of use of drugs in clinical practice, this will be acquired through integrated teaching with clinical departments and pre-clinical departments.
The following areas are being trained in the division of pharmacology for medical graduates
General principles of pharmacology
Systemic pharmacology
Clinical pharmacology (Integrating the concept of rational drug therapy)
Experimental pharmacology
The division also cater services to undergraduates of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al hasa. During the training dental graduates will be acquiring adequate knowledge, necessary skills and attitudes in the field of dental pharmacology which are essential for their professional obligation in oral health care and scientific research.
The Division encompasses of excellent laboratory facilities, experienced faculty and technical staff to meet the objective of the courses. The division conducts experiments for undergraduate demonstration, like study of effects of drugs on isolated tissues of laboratory animals. So that, students can observe and appreciate the effect of drugs on the experimentation it was designed to study and the interpretation of the experimental data. Furthermore, students are encouraged to involve/undertake simple & basic research projects & developments.
Laboratory facilities include a big practical hall, various teaching and learning resources and many research related instruments/devices including high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), microwave digestion, inductively coupled plasma, microtiter plate, In vivo imaging system etc. Also, the practical hall is well equipped with good audiovisual teaching aids.
6- DIVISION OF PHYSIOLOGY
Division of Physiology is a part of the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Medicine.
The Division of Physiology is actively involved in teaching physiology to the students of college of medicine, dentistry and biomedical engineering. We also coach the students in the research mentorship program.
Instruction in physiology occurs during several blocks of the University of Groningen Adopted curriculum of the medical studies including lectures, workshops, practicals and supervision of problem-based learning groups.
Teaching physiology seeks for students to understand the normal function of the intact organism, and to gain an insight into the function of individual organ systems. The division also participates in the supervision of student research projects in medical studies.
The division has expertise and special facilities managed by experienced faculty members and technical staff to meet the required standards.
7- DIVISION OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
Division of Forensic Medicine is one division among Department of Biomedical Sciences. Our objectives are the same as those of the department and the college in providing the highest learning services distinctive to students as well as the possibility of teaching the post- graduate courses and serve the community through the provision of medicolegal consultations to the concerned authorities.
Although there is no special labs for the division, but the students can get maximum benefits from both simulation and skill labs models .These labs include models for different types of wounds, burns as well as injuries of body organs.
The members of the division are qualified with the highest level of Professionalism and training in various fields of forensic medicine such as Forensic dentistry, Anthropology and legal aspects for DNA investigations. The courses conducted through the division are distributed over the third and fourth years with many other learning activities among the blocks such as lectures for medical ethics and workshop for child abuse.
Divisions' members are also included as tutors, mentors and coaches for small groups' students. The future vision of the division includes the transformation of courses into electronic ones and the possibility of cooperation with health and judicial institutes to provide the required medicolegal counsels.
