I am a medical graduate and medical physiology teacher and researcher. I worked at different medical colleges of Punjab, Pakistan. I published three books related to physiology, research and medical profession in Pakistan. Currently working as Professor of Physiology at DG Khan Medical College, Dera Ghazi Khan -Pakistan.
Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classr... more Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classroom, department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their learning in other situations, and to experience diversity.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the endocrine system control the internal environment of t... more The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the endocrine system control the internal environment of the body. The organization of the ANS is on the basis of the reflex arc. Changes in chemical composition, blood pressure, osmotic pressure, stretch in viscera, and temperature are detected by autonomic receptors. The visceral afferent fibres are myelinated and they accompany the visceral motor fibres. The sensory autonomic neurons are pseudo-unipolar cells located in the dorsal root ganglia of somatic spinal nerves. Once the afferent fibres gain entrance to the spinal cord or the brainstem, they are thought to travel alongside the somatic afferent fibres to the autonomic centres in different parts of the brain. Information reaches the higher autonomic centres from viscera through an ascending system that involves the nucleus tractus solitarius, the parabrachial nucleus, the periaqueductal gray matter, and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, pontine A5 cell group, rostral ventrolateral medulla, and medullary raphe nuclei send direct output to the preganglionic autonomic neurons. The amygdala, mesencephalic periaqueductal gray, caudal ventrolateral medulla, nucleus of the tractus solitarius, and medullary lateral tegmental field feed into these direct pathways.
Climate changes can contribute to flooding. The adverse effects of flooding include loss of life,... more Climate changes can contribute to flooding. The adverse effects of flooding include loss of life, property, and infrastructure damage, road closures, erosion and landslide risks, crop destruction and livestock loss, health risks due to water contamination, housing displacement and economic impacts. Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause wound infection, skin rash, gastrointestinal disorders, and tetanus etc. Around 33 million people in Pakistan were affected by devastating floods that killed over 1,700 people. One-third of Pakistan was inundated and 116 out of 154 districts of Pakistan have been affected by floods. Frail, hungry, children are fighting a losing battle against severe acute malnutrition, diarrhoea, malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, acute respiratory infections, and painful skin conditions. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk to children's mental health. According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 2,000 health facilities, representing 10% of all health facilities in the country have been damaged. As a result, over 8 million people in flood-affected districts are in urgent need of health assistance. Less than 50% of all people needing health services are currently able to access health facilities. Cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with complications are on the rise. Floods have disrupted immunization campaigns. United Nation's revised Floods Response Plan was released on 4 Oct and seeks $816 million to provide humanitarian assistance to 9.5 million people. As of
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic. Although experts first identified coronaviru... more The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic. Although experts first identified coronaviruses in the mid-1900s, they have likely been circulating in human populations for thousands of years. The major countries have been accused by each other of spreading this virus in the world intentionally or by accident. Some studies reported that this virus has a potential to become a bioweapon. Professor Sachs said that origin of COVID-19 should be looked into. Sir Jeremy Farrar suspected that the virus was man-made. During this debate, origin of COVID-19 remains a mystery. The Sane Advice by World Health Organization is that countries need a public health system that can respond to the deliberate release of chemical and biological agents. Present day war is fought on many fronts. So, all sections of society should be vigilant and respond effectively when need arises.
first adopted and then moved to a more integrated curriculum because of the concerns about the ef... more first adopted and then moved to a more integrated curriculum because of the concerns about the effectiveness of the integrated modular curriculum (IMC) and because IMC was not providing the necessary depth of knowledge. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, adopted but later reverted to the traditional curriculum. Other medical schools that have adopted and then left the IMC include the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune and the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in Delhi. History of IMC in medicine in some important countries is summarized here.
Father's most important gift to his child is good manners. Prophet Muhammad Ultimate outc... more Father's most important gift to his child is good manners. Prophet Muhammad Ultimate outcomes of undergraduate medical education is a doctor who has knowledge, skills, and professional attitude. Medical students had already partly formed professionalism attitudes before they started studying medicine. We, at medical college, just have to apprise or remind students that they have learned basic ethics/attitudes in premedical years. A scoring system is proposed to assess Professional Attitude of MBBS students. Positive or negative professional attitude/professional behaviour during the session will be closely monitored by the faculty. Positive behaviours increase the score; negative behaviours decrease the score. On the basis of this score, proper word will be entered in the relevant sentence on DMC or Character Certificate. Total Five year Marks: More than 85%= Excellent, 75.1-84.9= Very Good, 75%= Good, 70-74.9%= Fair, 65-69.9%= Satisfactory, Less than 65%= Poor. Assessment drives learning, so assessing students will guide their learning.
Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classr... more Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classroom,
department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of
undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two
major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each
component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides
students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their
learning in other situations, and to experience diversity. Classroom/Lecture Hall, Laboratory, Museums,
Tutorial Room, College Auditorium, College Library, Play Grounds, Patient Bedside, Outpatient
Department, Operation Theatre, Demonstration Room, Community Health Centre, MCH Centre,
Vaccination Centre, and even the Examination Hall are all parts of learning environment of an
undergraduate medical student.
Keywords: Learning environment, Medical students, Teaching Hospital, Medical College
Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):1‒2
All living organisms on earth have sensory systems which help them to detect changes in their env... more All living organisms on earth have sensory systems which help them to detect changes in their environment so that they can respond appropriately to survive, protect themselves or grow. While our senses are incredible tools for perceiving and interacting with the world, they have limitations. Our eyes can only detect a narrow range of the electromagnetic spectrum, we have narrow field of vision and limited visual acuity. Our ears have a limited range of frequencies that they can detect, preventing us from hearing infrasound and ultrasound. We have relatively small number of olfactory receptors. Humans have around 9,000 taste buds, allowing us to detect a wide range of flavours. In contrast, cats have only around 470 taste buds, making them less sensitive to taste. Dogs, on the other hand, have around 1,700 taste buds but their sense of smell is more dominant in determining their food preferences. By understanding these limitations, and knowing about the different mechanisms for enhanced or alternative perception present in other organisms, we can develop technologies and methods to compensate for them and enhance our understanding of the world around us. Inspired by the eye of the morpho butterfly, a surgical camera is developed that connects to the goggles of a surgeon who sees infrared signals given off by tumour-binding dyes and surgeon can remove all of the cancerous tissue.
Pakistan is badly in need of PhD teachers in basic medical sciences (BMS). The rate of production... more Pakistan is badly in need of PhD teachers in basic medical sciences (BMS). The rate of production of PhD, especially in Physiology in our country is very low. There are many internationally accepted ways to get a PhD, some are suitable for international students. France, a developed European country, started VAE program in 2002 to incentivize productive and effective people in any field through awarding higher degrees, even PhDs, on the basis of their work and experience in the relevant field. To compensate for the acute shortage of faculty in BMS subjects, we should discover some out of the box solution. Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should recognize the internationally accepted degrees in BMS subjects with a lenient policy. Medical Universities should legalize, even if on one-time basis, awarding PhDs to the senior M. Phil Professors. Universities should formulate some criteria, e.g., an M. Phil Professor with 20 years teaching experience and 20 research papers may be granted PhD in his subject. Seats of PGRs may be reserved for students of PhD in different BMS subjects in CIP induction policy in Punjab. Two PGRs may be allocated to each PhD teacher for teaching, training, and guidance in research and thesis writing while the university should conduct examinations and thesis defence of these students. Keywords: Basic Medical Sciences, PhD Physiology, PhD by Publication, VAE, CIP
To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study book... more To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all. Sir William Osler (1849-1919) Integration can be defined as integration of content within a single lecture or integration of a medical school's curriculum. MBBS curriculum of University of Health Sciences seems to be on the basis of Z-shaped curriculum model. Pakistani medical schools are unique in the sense that all teachers of basic medical sciences are physicians having MBBS degree and Faculty have additional post-graduate qualification in the relevant basic subject. Horizontal integration takes place when students prepare for annual examination, when all subjects are learned at the same time. During their lectures, these physician-teachers cross reference for horizontal integration and relate basic concepts with clinical situations for vertical integration. In the UHS curriculum, clinical modules and clinical skills are taught to further facilitate vertical integration. We propose a simple scheme to rationalize integration in the annual assessment. In the first year class only 10% questions may be integrated, clinical scenario based; subsequently 20% increase each year will give the ratios of 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%. To improve medical education in the country, the only way forward is to efficiently train teachers, recruit good teachers, authorize, trust and respect teachers.
ﺗﻐﯿﺮﮐﻮھﮯزﻣﺎﻧﮯﻣﯿﮟ اﯾﮏ ﺛﺒﺎت) اﻗﺒﺎل ((The only permanent thing in this universe is '... more ﺗﻐﯿﺮﮐﻮھﮯزﻣﺎﻧﮯﻣﯿﮟ اﯾﮏ ﺛﺒﺎت) اﻗﺒﺎل ((The only permanent thing in this universe is 'change'. Iqbal) Changes are introduced for improvement. Changes cannot be accepted if the sole strategy is to mandate solutions from the top down and there is multiplicity of existing policies. Entry test was started to counter cheating in the FSc examinations. This year syllabus and format for this test and its percentage in merit calculation was changed many times. National Licensing Examination (NLE) is also imposed on students after passing MBBS course. There is no uniform teaching or assessment methodology for MBBS. PMC allowed non-medical faculty to be inducted in medical colleges; it recently denied registering postgraduate qualifications of Basic Medical Sciences. PMDC was dissolved and PMC was constituted many times. No one is looking at the big picture and the health system as a whole. Results of this total bewilderment will be obvious in a few years' time. After these rapid changes, situation will be disastrous for the medical profession in the country.
Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its people but it is also providing efficient doctors ... more Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its people but it is also providing efficient doctors to all parts of the world. Unfortunately, standard of medical education in Pakistan is deteriorating. This is not the story of one day, it has a long history of ignoring this field for many years by many successive governments. Discussed here are some of the reasons and their solutions. Lack of political will of Governments, lack of roper hierarchy to control Medical Education, lethargy of training institutions for Medical Teachers, lacunas in examining bodies and examination system, easy going and short cut seeking behaviour of medical students and their study from substandard medical books are the main reasons. Establishment of an independent Medical Education Commission and medical education hierarchy, improving the medical teachers training, removing lacunas in the examination system, developing the writing skill of students reviving the habit of reading standard books by the students can improve our medical education. Pak J Physiol 2019;15(4):1–2
Decisions of the dissolved Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) Executive Committee had p... more Decisions of the dissolved Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) Executive Committee had provoked a sense of insecurity and apprehension among doctors in Pakistan. General practitioners were worried to complete certain number of CME/Training hours, especially the doctors of the remote areas who would have to travel long distances and to spend a lot of time and money. They would also have to leave their patients unattended during the CME activities. Medical students were under the onus of taking another (Exit) examination following the completion of MBBS course and the house job to get complete registration, wondering that either they graduated from some foreign medical school or the PMDC has self-acquired the role of an examining body. This was an open mistrust on our medical colleges, medical universities, and the whole medical education system. These decisions are reverted by the new Management Committee of PMDC. Another controversial decision which yet needs to be corrected is allowing clinical postgraduate degree holders to teach basic science subjects. This decision is liable to ‘officially’ promote quackery in medical education. Under the prevailing situation and the controversies arising, there is possibly no need of a Central PMDC as the health has now become a provincial subject. Pak J Physiol 2015;11(3):1–2
Almost all professions have their corresponding professional societies or associations. Every pro... more Almost all professions have their corresponding professional societies or associations. Every professional should be a member of some related professional society. That society will represent its members and work for the betterment of their profession. A society or association is a synergistic group. This means that the effect of a group of people is more than just one person. Societies are usually the non-profit organizations that promote a particular profession, promote the members of the profession, and also protect the public interests. Societies protect the interests of the public by maintaining the standards of training and by ensuring the ethical practices in their profession. Professional societies bring together like-minded people who can network, share experiences and learn from each other. Members of the society contribute to meet the expenses for the activities of the society. Membership fees and other contributions members make help support society programs and operating costs. Society programs play a big part in helping the membership grow. There are some disadvantages of the societies also. They often act like a cartel, a labour union or a trade union for the members of the profession. They usually get tipped in favour of protecting and defending the professionals rather than to protect the public interests. Nevertheless, advantages to become a member definitely outweigh these disadvantages. So be proud to be a member of your society, shout it from the rooftops. Become an active member and educate others for this excellent, worthwhile investment in future.
There are several professional organizations in the world which are dedicated to the cause of phy... more There are several professional organizations in the world which are dedicated to the cause of physiology. They are the custodians of the subject and are working to advance the different fields of physiology through research, education, scientific conferences, scientific journals and books. They also provide opportunities for young physiologists for networking with their seniors and mentors to progress in the field. Apart from the professional growth of its members, these societies enhance regional harmony and cooperation. Many of them are working locally while others are coordinating regional level societies and a few of them work globally. It is important to note that Pakistan Physiological Society (PPS) was founded exactly a hundred years after the American Physiological Society (APS) was founded, i.e., in 1987. So, PPS is nearer to APS by birth than the TPS. We are celebrating the 29th anniversary of the PPS on 15 April 2016. There is a hundred year gap in the birth of APS and PPS. Should there be a hundred year gap in their achievements and functioning? Let’s hope for better prospects! “If it was ever true that physiology had moved off centre stage, it is now coming back with a vengeanceâ€. Denis Noble, IUPS President.
E-Learning is ‘learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outsid... more E-Learning is ‘learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom’. During COVID-19 lockdown, the idea of e-learning is being debated rigorously to guide the medical students at their homes. In Pakistan, many believe it to be simply providing the instructional material to the students on college website which they can access through internet. It is a very efficient way of delivering courses online. Due to its convenience and flexibility, the resources are available from anywhere and at any time. Everyone can take advantage of web-based learning. Medical faculty try to transform a student in to a ‘self-learner’, i.e., one who can read the book comprehensively and can extract what is relevant and important and inculcate this knowledge into his or her behaviour. Apart from economic restraints and other limitations like unavailability of internet in remote areas, our teachers are not well-versed with this instructional methodology. A doctor has knowledge, attitudes and skills which he applies to treat patients. What we can or want to impart through e-Learning is ‘Knowledge’ and the other two traits, attitudes and skills, cannot be imparted through e-learning. Other aspects of a medical students’ training like interpersonal skills and teamwork, communication skills and behavioural skills cannot be learnt through e-learning or tele-learning. Nevertheless, e-learning modalities are widely integrated in medical education. During the lockdown due to COVID-19, whatever type and to whatever extent e-learning is used, it is a better alternative. Pak J Physiol 2020;16(1):1−2
Medical students are required to communicate knowledge, understanding, interpretation, inferences... more Medical students are required to communicate knowledge, understanding, interpretation, inferences, arguments, deductions and predictions by the appropriate use of clear and concise written English. The doctor who knows English is better aware of current trends in medicine, can get or continue medical education abroad, can participate in medical conferences abroad, and can work in a team with foreign specialists. English allows the doctor to have an appointment with foreign patients in clinics. Academic writing is extensively acknowledged as a key skill for students to boost their educational performance at higher education level. Assessment through essay write-up answers should be encouraged as guessing by students is eliminated in essay examination. There is no option to select from the given possible choices and they have to provide the answer rather than selecting/ticking the good response.
Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classr... more Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classroom, department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their learning in other situations, and to experience diversity.
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the endocrine system control the internal environment of t... more The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the endocrine system control the internal environment of the body. The organization of the ANS is on the basis of the reflex arc. Changes in chemical composition, blood pressure, osmotic pressure, stretch in viscera, and temperature are detected by autonomic receptors. The visceral afferent fibres are myelinated and they accompany the visceral motor fibres. The sensory autonomic neurons are pseudo-unipolar cells located in the dorsal root ganglia of somatic spinal nerves. Once the afferent fibres gain entrance to the spinal cord or the brainstem, they are thought to travel alongside the somatic afferent fibres to the autonomic centres in different parts of the brain. Information reaches the higher autonomic centres from viscera through an ascending system that involves the nucleus tractus solitarius, the parabrachial nucleus, the periaqueductal gray matter, and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, pontine A5 cell group, rostral ventrolateral medulla, and medullary raphe nuclei send direct output to the preganglionic autonomic neurons. The amygdala, mesencephalic periaqueductal gray, caudal ventrolateral medulla, nucleus of the tractus solitarius, and medullary lateral tegmental field feed into these direct pathways.
Climate changes can contribute to flooding. The adverse effects of flooding include loss of life,... more Climate changes can contribute to flooding. The adverse effects of flooding include loss of life, property, and infrastructure damage, road closures, erosion and landslide risks, crop destruction and livestock loss, health risks due to water contamination, housing displacement and economic impacts. Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause wound infection, skin rash, gastrointestinal disorders, and tetanus etc. Around 33 million people in Pakistan were affected by devastating floods that killed over 1,700 people. One-third of Pakistan was inundated and 116 out of 154 districts of Pakistan have been affected by floods. Frail, hungry, children are fighting a losing battle against severe acute malnutrition, diarrhoea, malaria, dengue fever, typhoid, acute respiratory infections, and painful skin conditions. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk to children's mental health. According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 2,000 health facilities, representing 10% of all health facilities in the country have been damaged. As a result, over 8 million people in flood-affected districts are in urgent need of health assistance. Less than 50% of all people needing health services are currently able to access health facilities. Cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with complications are on the rise. Floods have disrupted immunization campaigns. United Nation's revised Floods Response Plan was released on 4 Oct and seeks $816 million to provide humanitarian assistance to 9.5 million people. As of
The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic. Although experts first identified coronaviru... more The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic. Although experts first identified coronaviruses in the mid-1900s, they have likely been circulating in human populations for thousands of years. The major countries have been accused by each other of spreading this virus in the world intentionally or by accident. Some studies reported that this virus has a potential to become a bioweapon. Professor Sachs said that origin of COVID-19 should be looked into. Sir Jeremy Farrar suspected that the virus was man-made. During this debate, origin of COVID-19 remains a mystery. The Sane Advice by World Health Organization is that countries need a public health system that can respond to the deliberate release of chemical and biological agents. Present day war is fought on many fronts. So, all sections of society should be vigilant and respond effectively when need arises.
first adopted and then moved to a more integrated curriculum because of the concerns about the ef... more first adopted and then moved to a more integrated curriculum because of the concerns about the effectiveness of the integrated modular curriculum (IMC) and because IMC was not providing the necessary depth of knowledge. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, adopted but later reverted to the traditional curriculum. Other medical schools that have adopted and then left the IMC include the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune and the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in Delhi. History of IMC in medicine in some important countries is summarized here.
Father's most important gift to his child is good manners. Prophet Muhammad Ultimate outc... more Father's most important gift to his child is good manners. Prophet Muhammad Ultimate outcomes of undergraduate medical education is a doctor who has knowledge, skills, and professional attitude. Medical students had already partly formed professionalism attitudes before they started studying medicine. We, at medical college, just have to apprise or remind students that they have learned basic ethics/attitudes in premedical years. A scoring system is proposed to assess Professional Attitude of MBBS students. Positive or negative professional attitude/professional behaviour during the session will be closely monitored by the faculty. Positive behaviours increase the score; negative behaviours decrease the score. On the basis of this score, proper word will be entered in the relevant sentence on DMC or Character Certificate. Total Five year Marks: More than 85%= Excellent, 75.1-84.9= Very Good, 75%= Good, 70-74.9%= Fair, 65-69.9%= Satisfactory, Less than 65%= Poor. Assessment drives learning, so assessing students will guide their learning.
Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classr... more Learning Environment for Medical Students is defined as everything that happens within the classroom,
department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of
undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two
major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each
component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides
students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their
learning in other situations, and to experience diversity. Classroom/Lecture Hall, Laboratory, Museums,
Tutorial Room, College Auditorium, College Library, Play Grounds, Patient Bedside, Outpatient
Department, Operation Theatre, Demonstration Room, Community Health Centre, MCH Centre,
Vaccination Centre, and even the Examination Hall are all parts of learning environment of an
undergraduate medical student.
Keywords: Learning environment, Medical students, Teaching Hospital, Medical College
Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):1‒2
All living organisms on earth have sensory systems which help them to detect changes in their env... more All living organisms on earth have sensory systems which help them to detect changes in their environment so that they can respond appropriately to survive, protect themselves or grow. While our senses are incredible tools for perceiving and interacting with the world, they have limitations. Our eyes can only detect a narrow range of the electromagnetic spectrum, we have narrow field of vision and limited visual acuity. Our ears have a limited range of frequencies that they can detect, preventing us from hearing infrasound and ultrasound. We have relatively small number of olfactory receptors. Humans have around 9,000 taste buds, allowing us to detect a wide range of flavours. In contrast, cats have only around 470 taste buds, making them less sensitive to taste. Dogs, on the other hand, have around 1,700 taste buds but their sense of smell is more dominant in determining their food preferences. By understanding these limitations, and knowing about the different mechanisms for enhanced or alternative perception present in other organisms, we can develop technologies and methods to compensate for them and enhance our understanding of the world around us. Inspired by the eye of the morpho butterfly, a surgical camera is developed that connects to the goggles of a surgeon who sees infrared signals given off by tumour-binding dyes and surgeon can remove all of the cancerous tissue.
Pakistan is badly in need of PhD teachers in basic medical sciences (BMS). The rate of production... more Pakistan is badly in need of PhD teachers in basic medical sciences (BMS). The rate of production of PhD, especially in Physiology in our country is very low. There are many internationally accepted ways to get a PhD, some are suitable for international students. France, a developed European country, started VAE program in 2002 to incentivize productive and effective people in any field through awarding higher degrees, even PhDs, on the basis of their work and experience in the relevant field. To compensate for the acute shortage of faculty in BMS subjects, we should discover some out of the box solution. Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should recognize the internationally accepted degrees in BMS subjects with a lenient policy. Medical Universities should legalize, even if on one-time basis, awarding PhDs to the senior M. Phil Professors. Universities should formulate some criteria, e.g., an M. Phil Professor with 20 years teaching experience and 20 research papers may be granted PhD in his subject. Seats of PGRs may be reserved for students of PhD in different BMS subjects in CIP induction policy in Punjab. Two PGRs may be allocated to each PhD teacher for teaching, training, and guidance in research and thesis writing while the university should conduct examinations and thesis defence of these students. Keywords: Basic Medical Sciences, PhD Physiology, PhD by Publication, VAE, CIP
To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study book... more To study the phenomenon of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all. Sir William Osler (1849-1919) Integration can be defined as integration of content within a single lecture or integration of a medical school's curriculum. MBBS curriculum of University of Health Sciences seems to be on the basis of Z-shaped curriculum model. Pakistani medical schools are unique in the sense that all teachers of basic medical sciences are physicians having MBBS degree and Faculty have additional post-graduate qualification in the relevant basic subject. Horizontal integration takes place when students prepare for annual examination, when all subjects are learned at the same time. During their lectures, these physician-teachers cross reference for horizontal integration and relate basic concepts with clinical situations for vertical integration. In the UHS curriculum, clinical modules and clinical skills are taught to further facilitate vertical integration. We propose a simple scheme to rationalize integration in the annual assessment. In the first year class only 10% questions may be integrated, clinical scenario based; subsequently 20% increase each year will give the ratios of 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%. To improve medical education in the country, the only way forward is to efficiently train teachers, recruit good teachers, authorize, trust and respect teachers.
ﺗﻐﯿﺮﮐﻮھﮯزﻣﺎﻧﮯﻣﯿﮟ اﯾﮏ ﺛﺒﺎت) اﻗﺒﺎل ((The only permanent thing in this universe is '... more ﺗﻐﯿﺮﮐﻮھﮯزﻣﺎﻧﮯﻣﯿﮟ اﯾﮏ ﺛﺒﺎت) اﻗﺒﺎل ((The only permanent thing in this universe is 'change'. Iqbal) Changes are introduced for improvement. Changes cannot be accepted if the sole strategy is to mandate solutions from the top down and there is multiplicity of existing policies. Entry test was started to counter cheating in the FSc examinations. This year syllabus and format for this test and its percentage in merit calculation was changed many times. National Licensing Examination (NLE) is also imposed on students after passing MBBS course. There is no uniform teaching or assessment methodology for MBBS. PMC allowed non-medical faculty to be inducted in medical colleges; it recently denied registering postgraduate qualifications of Basic Medical Sciences. PMDC was dissolved and PMC was constituted many times. No one is looking at the big picture and the health system as a whole. Results of this total bewilderment will be obvious in a few years' time. After these rapid changes, situation will be disastrous for the medical profession in the country.
Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its people but it is also providing efficient doctors ... more Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its people but it is also providing efficient doctors to all parts of the world. Unfortunately, standard of medical education in Pakistan is deteriorating. This is not the story of one day, it has a long history of ignoring this field for many years by many successive governments. Discussed here are some of the reasons and their solutions. Lack of political will of Governments, lack of roper hierarchy to control Medical Education, lethargy of training institutions for Medical Teachers, lacunas in examining bodies and examination system, easy going and short cut seeking behaviour of medical students and their study from substandard medical books are the main reasons. Establishment of an independent Medical Education Commission and medical education hierarchy, improving the medical teachers training, removing lacunas in the examination system, developing the writing skill of students reviving the habit of reading standard books by the students can improve our medical education. Pak J Physiol 2019;15(4):1–2
Decisions of the dissolved Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) Executive Committee had p... more Decisions of the dissolved Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) Executive Committee had provoked a sense of insecurity and apprehension among doctors in Pakistan. General practitioners were worried to complete certain number of CME/Training hours, especially the doctors of the remote areas who would have to travel long distances and to spend a lot of time and money. They would also have to leave their patients unattended during the CME activities. Medical students were under the onus of taking another (Exit) examination following the completion of MBBS course and the house job to get complete registration, wondering that either they graduated from some foreign medical school or the PMDC has self-acquired the role of an examining body. This was an open mistrust on our medical colleges, medical universities, and the whole medical education system. These decisions are reverted by the new Management Committee of PMDC. Another controversial decision which yet needs to be corrected is allowing clinical postgraduate degree holders to teach basic science subjects. This decision is liable to ‘officially’ promote quackery in medical education. Under the prevailing situation and the controversies arising, there is possibly no need of a Central PMDC as the health has now become a provincial subject. Pak J Physiol 2015;11(3):1–2
Almost all professions have their corresponding professional societies or associations. Every pro... more Almost all professions have their corresponding professional societies or associations. Every professional should be a member of some related professional society. That society will represent its members and work for the betterment of their profession. A society or association is a synergistic group. This means that the effect of a group of people is more than just one person. Societies are usually the non-profit organizations that promote a particular profession, promote the members of the profession, and also protect the public interests. Societies protect the interests of the public by maintaining the standards of training and by ensuring the ethical practices in their profession. Professional societies bring together like-minded people who can network, share experiences and learn from each other. Members of the society contribute to meet the expenses for the activities of the society. Membership fees and other contributions members make help support society programs and operating costs. Society programs play a big part in helping the membership grow. There are some disadvantages of the societies also. They often act like a cartel, a labour union or a trade union for the members of the profession. They usually get tipped in favour of protecting and defending the professionals rather than to protect the public interests. Nevertheless, advantages to become a member definitely outweigh these disadvantages. So be proud to be a member of your society, shout it from the rooftops. Become an active member and educate others for this excellent, worthwhile investment in future.
There are several professional organizations in the world which are dedicated to the cause of phy... more There are several professional organizations in the world which are dedicated to the cause of physiology. They are the custodians of the subject and are working to advance the different fields of physiology through research, education, scientific conferences, scientific journals and books. They also provide opportunities for young physiologists for networking with their seniors and mentors to progress in the field. Apart from the professional growth of its members, these societies enhance regional harmony and cooperation. Many of them are working locally while others are coordinating regional level societies and a few of them work globally. It is important to note that Pakistan Physiological Society (PPS) was founded exactly a hundred years after the American Physiological Society (APS) was founded, i.e., in 1987. So, PPS is nearer to APS by birth than the TPS. We are celebrating the 29th anniversary of the PPS on 15 April 2016. There is a hundred year gap in the birth of APS and PPS. Should there be a hundred year gap in their achievements and functioning? Let’s hope for better prospects! “If it was ever true that physiology had moved off centre stage, it is now coming back with a vengeanceâ€. Denis Noble, IUPS President.
E-Learning is ‘learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outsid... more E-Learning is ‘learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom’. During COVID-19 lockdown, the idea of e-learning is being debated rigorously to guide the medical students at their homes. In Pakistan, many believe it to be simply providing the instructional material to the students on college website which they can access through internet. It is a very efficient way of delivering courses online. Due to its convenience and flexibility, the resources are available from anywhere and at any time. Everyone can take advantage of web-based learning. Medical faculty try to transform a student in to a ‘self-learner’, i.e., one who can read the book comprehensively and can extract what is relevant and important and inculcate this knowledge into his or her behaviour. Apart from economic restraints and other limitations like unavailability of internet in remote areas, our teachers are not well-versed with this instructional methodology. A doctor has knowledge, attitudes and skills which he applies to treat patients. What we can or want to impart through e-Learning is ‘Knowledge’ and the other two traits, attitudes and skills, cannot be imparted through e-learning. Other aspects of a medical students’ training like interpersonal skills and teamwork, communication skills and behavioural skills cannot be learnt through e-learning or tele-learning. Nevertheless, e-learning modalities are widely integrated in medical education. During the lockdown due to COVID-19, whatever type and to whatever extent e-learning is used, it is a better alternative. Pak J Physiol 2020;16(1):1−2
Medical students are required to communicate knowledge, understanding, interpretation, inferences... more Medical students are required to communicate knowledge, understanding, interpretation, inferences, arguments, deductions and predictions by the appropriate use of clear and concise written English. The doctor who knows English is better aware of current trends in medicine, can get or continue medical education abroad, can participate in medical conferences abroad, and can work in a team with foreign specialists. English allows the doctor to have an appointment with foreign patients in clinics. Academic writing is extensively acknowledged as a key skill for students to boost their educational performance at higher education level. Assessment through essay write-up answers should be encouraged as guessing by students is eliminated in essay examination. There is no option to select from the given possible choices and they have to provide the answer rather than selecting/ticking the good response.
This guide provides medical students an overview of medical field and provide information about h... more This guide provides medical students an overview of medical field and provide information about how to study, how to memorize material for effectively perform during exams. Medical studies are hard and different from general education.
This book is first of its kind written in Urdu - the national language of Pakistan. It was wriitt... more This book is first of its kind written in Urdu - the national language of Pakistan. It was wriitten to attract medical scientists toward the field of research. It introduces the reader about basic concepts of medical research and various types of medical writings including writing of research paper, synopsis writing, Thesis writing, presenting paper in a research conference and poster presentation.
Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its own people but is also providing efficient doctors... more Pakistan is not only producing doctors for its own people but is also providing efficient doctors to all parts of the world. Unfortunately, standard of medical education in Pakistan is deteriorating. This is not the story of one day, it has a long history of ignoring this field for many years by many successive governments. Discussed here are some of the reasons and their solutions. Lack of political will of Governments, lack of roper hierarchy to control Medical Education, lethargy of training institutions for Medical Teachers, lacunas in examining bodies and examination system, easy going and shortcut seeking behaviour of medical students and their study from substandard medical books are some of the reasons. Establishment of an independent Medical Education Commission and medical education hierarchy, improving the medical teachers training, removing lacunas in the examination system, developing the writing skill of students, reviving the habit of reading standard books by the students can improve our medical education.
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Papers by tehseen iqbal
department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of
undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two
major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each
component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides
students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their
learning in other situations, and to experience diversity. Classroom/Lecture Hall, Laboratory, Museums,
Tutorial Room, College Auditorium, College Library, Play Grounds, Patient Bedside, Outpatient
Department, Operation Theatre, Demonstration Room, Community Health Centre, MCH Centre,
Vaccination Centre, and even the Examination Hall are all parts of learning environment of an
undergraduate medical student.
Keywords: Learning environment, Medical students, Teaching Hospital, Medical College
Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):1‒2
department, university, Teaching Hospital, or outside, that is essential in determining the success of
undergraduate medical students. Learning environment for undergraduate medical students has two
major areas: Medical College, and Teaching Hospital. Each one of them has many components. Each
component has its own learning style, dynamics and rules to follow. Each learning environment provides
students an opportunity to interact with peers and teachers, to have frequent feedback, to apply their
learning in other situations, and to experience diversity. Classroom/Lecture Hall, Laboratory, Museums,
Tutorial Room, College Auditorium, College Library, Play Grounds, Patient Bedside, Outpatient
Department, Operation Theatre, Demonstration Room, Community Health Centre, MCH Centre,
Vaccination Centre, and even the Examination Hall are all parts of learning environment of an
undergraduate medical student.
Keywords: Learning environment, Medical students, Teaching Hospital, Medical College
Pak J Physiol 2021;17(4):1‒2