This website provides you with some scheduling and background information about the operation of the PIM unit. PIM stands for Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology. The designers of the unit have attempted to integrate these disciplines where feasible. We hope that the cases, lectures, laboratories and special seminars will give you a fundamental understanding of these three branches of medical science as well as stimulate your interest in the Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology of many diseases.

Below are some guidelines for the unit.

Schedules

The detailed daily schedule for the PIM unit is on Dalmedix. In addition, this web site provides an overview of the PIM unit content and a detailed lecture schedule.

Cases

There is approximately one case per week.  Each case requires about 5 hours of tutorial time. Day 1 introduces the case, defines terms and identifies learning issues.  Day 2 explores learning issues and identifies others.   Day 3 wraps up the case. Occasionally, the following week's case may be introduced on Friday. Also on day 3, there is a Review Session following the tutorial where case writers and/or other experts will be available to discuss the case with the whole class.

Resource Persons

A list of resource persons is provided with each case.  Please phone them in advance if you would like to meet with them.  Small group rather than individual visits might be more efficient.  E-mail is also a convenient way in which you can interact with many of the faculty members.  Your lecturers are also resource persons for their lecture topics.

Lectures

There are three to six lectures per week.  Some of these address issues in the cases, but others may introduce you to some other aspect of the discipline not necessarily linked to case content.

Laboratory Sessions

These are designed to provide insight into laboratory-based medicine.   Please note the location and times for these sessions in the schedule on Dalmedix.  The Microbiology labs will be given in two sessions on the appropriate afternoons.

Immunology Clinical Cases Sessions

Specific immunology issues will be presented in a case format for the whole class.  More information will be provided in advance of the session.  This is a good opportunity for the class to raise questions on immunology.

Computer Programs

Five computer programs are available in the computer room, which either supplement or are integral parts of the PIM unit.

• ASM Cases in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Gram Stain Tutor
• Microbes in Motion
• Immunology for Medical Students (see PIM website)
• PIM Lab 3: Mycology and Parasitology (see PIM website)

There are also slides on the PIM website for the Pathology cases.

EVALUATION

Questions on Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology will examine material addressed in the case tutorials, lectures, and labs.  Your pass/fail status on the exam will be based on your performance on the entire unit, not its individual components.  A passing grade is 60% and a marginal passing grade is a passing grade significantly lower than the remainder of the class, and it indicates a pass, but a knowledge weakness in the subject matter.

Some practice exam questions will be provided on the PIM website from time to time throughout the unit.   Model answers will be provided after you have had a chance to answer the questions yourself.