REVISITING EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL CURRICULUM

Abstract

Physiology being an important subject among basic medical sciences is taught during initial years of undergraduate degree programs throughout the world. Experimental Physiology is an integral component and has its role in comprehension of the physiological concepts and development of conceptual knowledge. With influx of enormous amount of new information in recent past, contents in the theory component are tremendously increased while practical part is relatively lagging behind. Use of live animals in undergraduate laboratories is being discouraged and introduction of basic clinical skills and use of manikins is promoted. At the same time, many important systems of the subject are not covered in the experiments being conducted in majority of institutions; even they do not exist in the list of experiments included by Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) in the revised curriculum. To keep a balance between theory and practical components and to address the growing global needs, a serious revisit of the experimental part of the subject is needed. Use of modern equipment, introduction of new experiments in the neglected areas, strengthening skill labs and adopting measures for development of professionalism is need of the hour. Physiologists need to address this challenge. Meanwhile, there is a growing trend by many medical institutions to adopt integrated curriculum and assessment. It is responsibility of educationists to revisit the subject in such a manner that without compromising the essentials, the subject is incorporated in the curriculum.