Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Program Goals
- Provide the student with broad foundation knowledge of the medical and dental sciences as they relate to the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
- Provide the student with an in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the full range of pathologic processes affecting the head and neck area.
- Provide the student with an in-depth knowledge of the basic and advanced histologic, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescent techniques utilized in the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
- Stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the approach to the evaluation of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
- Provide the student with knowledge of the methods of scientific inquiry and research, and stimulate scientific curiosity in pathophysiology.
- Produce graduates of the program who have confidence in their skills, are independent thinkers, and have a motivation for continued, life-long learning in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
- Produce graduates of the program with all the necessary knowledge and skill to competently practice Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the program are to achieve the above goals. The goals will be obtained by educating the student beyond a competence level to the level of proficiency in specific areas of interest and concern. At the completion of the program, it is expected that the student will be able to:
- Examine, interpret, and prepare gross tissue specimens for tissue embedding and processing.
- Recognize normal tissue microscopically.
- Recognize and interpret pathologic changes, separating diseases by histopathologic patterns into well-defined differential diagnostic categories.
- Arrive at a final histopathologic diagnosis, using critical thinking skills combined with application of knowledge to narrow the histopathologic differential diagnosis to a single entity.
- Apply and interpret special histochemical procedures as an aid to microscopic diagnosis.
- Apply and interpret advanced immunohistochemical techniques to difficult diagnostic situations to assist in arriving at a final microscopic diagnosis.
- Apply and interpret immunofluorescent techniques to vesiculo-bullous and lichenoid lesions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
- Apply and interpret in-situ hybridization studies where indicated.
- Provide a written final pathology report with final diagnosis and appropriate comments and recommendations.
- Communicate effectively with contributing clinicians and general pathologists.
- Record a complete and comprehensive medical/dental history, highlighting salient points that impact on clinical pathology present in the patient.
- Interpret clinical pathologic changes, grouping diseases according to the clinical presentation, in order to arrive at a differential diagnosis and, ultimately, a final diagnosis.
- Order and interpret appropriate clinical laboratory studies to assist in arriving at a final diagnosis.
- Order and interpret appropriate radiographic studies to assist in arriving at a final diagnosis.
- Provide treatment for patients with a wide variety of oral mucosal diseases and conditions.
- Make recommendations to medical and dental colleagues regarding treatment options for diseases beyond the scope of clinical treatment by Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
- Critically evaluate scientific literature, with particular emphasis on literature involving the head and neck area.
- Understand and apply the scientific method.
- Organize and present lectures on various aspects of oral and maxillofacial pathology.