Integrated Approach in Comprehending and Teaching Physiology and Biochemistry
Teachers in all fields are leaders of the new generation. The ability of a teacher to impart knowledge to the students effectively is the hallmark of his/her quality. Just like the beginning of schooling, where the impression of the teacher lasts for their remaining life, the impact/methodology of a teacher in the beginning of professional education (Master's or MBBS/BDS) is determinal in the personnel who would be assuming the role of teachers of future scientists and doctors. Educating personnel in the field of health sciences, who will either be teaching medical/dental undergraduate students or postgraduate university students in the basic sciences (physiology/biochemistry) is of prime importance. The effectiveness of these teachers to communicate with their students would result in clearing the concepts in the mind of these young professionals, who would have to apply these in comprehending the diseases for therapeutics, situation analysis for research, and also in imparting further training to the next generation.
In order to impart quality training to prospective teachers, our department has provided training to around 70 postgraduate students, through which they have been able to develop a command over the integrated study of human physiology and biochemistry, specially for reproductive health associated problems, using the contemporary techniques available. Many of them are now teaching in postgraduate institutions as well as medical colleges. Teachers already working in postgraduate institutes as well as medical colleges are also being provided training to comprehend the integrated approach. In addition to learning the theoretical and practical aspects of human physiology and biochemistry through interpretation of the clinical picture of patients with their diagnostic profiles, these prospective teachers have also been taught data analysis and interpretation, which has led to publication of their research findings which were carried out under our supervision.
In order to improve their interpersonal communication skills, our emphasis has been in making these teachers make effective presentations. For improvement of their written expression, they were encouraged to write for medical journals. The broad areas covered for educating the present and prospective teachers included infertility, tumours and metabolic disorders associated with reproductive health functions of both genders. Such specific programmes for postgraduate students led to improvement in quality of teacher education, which in fact is going to benefit the future generations of Pakistan.