Medical students raise the awareness of pathology through event

Third year students Bogdan Chinva Giurca, 23 and Navin Mukundu Nagesh, 24 aim to further strengthen the relationship between healthcare professionals and the local community, through empowering both pathologists and medical students. They will host events to involve patients at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, as well as with fellow students at the University of Exeter Medical School.

The series of events will take place from 7 to 11 November and will see pathologists and laboratory scientists across the country deliver a variety of events to raise awareness of the different roles of pathologists and how these fit into everyday healthcare. It will include displays organised by the students, funded by The Royal College of Pathologists.

It is the first time that University of Exeter Medical School students have organised such a large event of this nature. Bogdan said: “After attending the Pathology Summer School 2015, I felt empowered and motivated to bring together pathologists from Exeter and Devon to set up a National Week Event. It provides the perfect opportunity to engage in the hospital, the community and the medical school in Exeter and Truro. It will give students and staff members the opportunity to uncover the unknown facts and concepts behind pathology.”

Bogdan and Navin will also run a number of engaging activities where people of all ages can get involved. Members of the public will be able to view pathology samples under the microscope, take part in a microbe drawing competition and face-painting will be available for children. To mark the end of the week, the students will host a pathology themed pub quiz, to bust common misconceptions and myths surrounding pathology.

Explaining the motivation behind this event, Navin said: “Medical students have little understanding about the role of pathologists in healthcare. When asked about it, most students believe that pathologists only spend time in the lab, away from patients. As a medical student, I am lucky to have had the chance to attend a summer school, but most of my peers are still unaware of the valuable roles played by pathologists each day. It would be an honour for us to raise awareness of the different roles of pathologists as part of the National Pathology Week 2016.”

Find out more and get a full programme of events on the University website.