Approaching Pathology in 2nd year

When I entered my first professionals and asked my UG seniors to guide me on the approach that I must take, most of them told me to stick to notes and past papers.

Honestly, I did the notes, guide book and past papers blunder in my early years and I don't want you to repeat the mistakes I did initially. I later approached people in several medical colleges across India and my aunt who constantly guides me. The answer to my questions was no matter how difficult it gets, stick to standard books. 

"Of course it's hard. It's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Hard is what makes it great."

Initially, it was tough for me to switch from guide books, and notes to standard books, but once I started reading consistently it became a lot simpler and more interesting.

Pathology isn't constrained to what we see pathologists doing in our day-to-day lives. You do have Blood, Stool and Urine examinations in practicals. But, the major part will be the study of the cause of disease, its aetiology and pathogenesis. You'll study different systems and a variety of diseases.

Pathology is abnormal physiology. These two subjects will be the foundation for Medicine subject in your final year.

I've divided studying pathology into 3 phases

Phase 1:- Foundation

Phase 2:- Reading the Bible of Pathology 

Phase 3:- Exam Preparation

Phase 1:- Foundation

The foundation starts with reading Pathoma books and watching pathoma videos.

Pathoma is a wonderful book for basics and high-yield facts. So first read it to make your foundation strong.

 

- Pathoma reading can be paired with Dr Najeeb's lectures, he is one of the teachers I can blindly rely on for general pathology. He uses Robbin's pathology as a base, so you will find it easier when you read Robbin's pathology in phase 2.

Neoplasia taught by Dr Najeeb is relatively long but it's worth watching, it will help you in future. Inflammation, Edema, Shock, Necrosis and Apoptosis are short and easy to understand. Immunology chapter (Microbiology) - Hypersensitivity is well taught by Dr Najeeb. 

Phase 2:- Reading the Bible of Pathology 

- Once your foundation is done, you can start constructing the building. 

The one book which you should be reading thoroughly without a doubt is Robbins & Cotran's Pathologic Basis of Disease (South Asia Edition) by Kumar, Abbas, and Aster.

Read it once, twice, as many times as you can. Pay more attention to understanding the topic than highlighting important points. You can make a summary of the chapter after you complete its reading. Flowcharts are important, so make a separate book for flowcharts for quick review. Make diagrams where ever it's necessary. The best thing about Robbins is its tables. It has clinical and morphological features in the form of a table. You can refer to the tables while revising the subject.

One thing I will focus on is, it's essential to have a **clinical approach**. So keep patients in mind while studying pathology. Visit clinics/hospitals and try to correlate what you've studied. If you see any of your kin having some disease, open the book and read that disease fully. Revise multiple times and read it after your second year as well in your free time. 

*Note:- Give equal importance to other subjects in 2nd year*

Phase 3:- Exam Preparation 

Harsh Mohan and Previous year questions:-

Previous year questions and Harsh Mohan's reading should go hand in hand. Just see what has been asked previously in your university exams and read from Harsh Mohan that's it. You need not read Harsh Mohan entirely. A little reading will help you to recollect what you have studied in Pathoma and Robbins.

Some students entirely rely on Harsh Mohan for Pathology but that doesn't clear the concepts and is not helpful in the long run. Skimming through the topics for theory exams is more than enough.

Other books and resources which are popular but I haven't tried:-

1) Concepts in Pathology with image interpretations with CD by Devesh Mishra

2) Exam Preparatory Manual for Undergraduates Pathology by Ramadas Nayak and Rakshatha Nayak

3) Kaplan notes and videos:- I used it for a while and then never got time to do it. It's good for people who want to give USMLE

4) Prepladder:- I didn't use prepladder in 2nd year. I feel it's good for revision during preparation for PG entrance.

5) Marrow

Remember, pathology is everywhere in future. In Surgery, Obgy, Harrison's or Davidson's Medicine and even for PG entrance. The time and efforts you'll put into pathology in 2nd professionals will be very fruitful in your clinical years.

"Everything you do now is for your future"

Lastly do not stress. Your mental health is important (:

For any queries, you can DM me on Instagram @medlifeoftashii

"Note that these are my personal experiences and views, study approach may vary from person to person"