University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Collegium Medicum

Faculty of Medicine

Rules and regulations of  Pathology for students of the School of Medicine Collegium Medicum University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

1. General information.

1.1 Subject is conducted by the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

1.2 Employees responsible for the realization of the subject:

a. Head of the Department:  Konrad Ptaszyński, MD, PhD, MBA

b. Subject Coordinator:  Konrad Ptaszyński, MD, PhD, MBA; Marta Ruskań-Bakun, MD

c. Persons responsible for realization of  particular types of classes:

Lectures: Konrad Ptaszyński, MD, PhD, MBA

Classes: Hanna Majewska, MD, PhD;  Marta Ruskań-Bakun, MD; Karolina Hejne, MD; Wiktoria Krajewska MD; Anna Kabać-Obrączka MD

Seminars: Konrad Ptaszyński, MD, PhD, MBA;  Karolina Hejne, MD; Anna Kabać-Obrączka MD

1.3 The place, time and topic of individual forms of classes. seminars, lectures and credits are specified in the following documents: study plan, syllabus and schedule of the classes.

2. Pathology takes the form of lectures, classes and seminars.

a. Lectures for all students in a given semester are conducted in the form of multimedia presentations.

b. Classes are conducted in dean groups of 10-15 people. During each exercise, topic will be discussed in accordance with the exercise schedule, with the presentation of microscopic preparations. In addition, the classes can take place in the section room and laboratory classes at the Voivodeship Hospital and the Regional Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn (evaluation of macroscopic preparations and autopsies).

c. Seminars are conducted in groups of 20-30 students in the form of multimedia presentations.

3. Rules for students’ participation in specific forms of classes.

a. Students are required to attend the classes and seminars in accordance with the exercise and seminar groups allocated at the beginning of each semester. In exceptional situations, students may do classes or seminars with another group with the prior agreement of the Pathology Course Coordinator as well as consultation of the person conducting the classes. A request to make up for classes should be submitted to the e-mail address of the Department's secretariat or  to the Coordinator.

b. Before entering lectures, seminars and classes, external clothing should be left in the locker room.

c. Students will be informed of the autopsy the day before the classes (by e-mail or phone). During the section exercises, a doctor's outfit and shoes are intended exclusively for walking in the section room. Students dressed not in accordance with applicable regulations will not be allowed to attend the autopsy.

d. During all classes aas well as autopsies students are required to have a photo ID. Lack of ID precludes the student from participating in the class.

e. It is necessary to keep silent during all pathology classes, in particular sectional and laboratory classes. In addition, the use of cell phones and other electronic devices during the classes is not permitted (no photographing, filming and recording). Using the above mentioned is possible only on the instruction of the teacher. Failure to comply with the above point of the regulations may result in expulsion from classes, failing them and will be treated as an absence from classes, without being able to retake them.

f. Students are not allowed to make decisions connected with corpses without consulting a doctor.

g. Students who show an inappropriate attitude towards corpses or treat their medical duties in a disrespectful manner will be directed to the Head of the Pathomorphology Department, who will decide on further proceedings.

h. For security reasons, it is allowed to stay in the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine up to 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the scheduled classes.

4. Attendance and absence.

4.1 Classes, seminars, lectures, final colloquiums and exam are held according to the presented plan, according to the schedule and during the hours provided for in the schedule.

4.2 Attendance in classes, seminars and lectures is obligatory.

4.3 All absences must be excused.

Absence is understood as absence from the whole class or being over 15 minutes late. In the situation of a delay of more than 15 minutes, lateness is considered an absence. In these cases, it is necessary to provide document according to the rules described in section 4.5 and do the classes according to the principles set out in section 4.6. In the case of failure to comply, the provisions of the regulations relating to unexcused absence shall apply. In the case of colloquium and exam, the room will be closed together with the entrance to the room of the last person arrived at the time set as the date of the colloquium or exam given two weeks before. After this time, students will not be able to enter the room, which results in failing a given colloquium or exam.

4.4 A total of two excused absences from classes, seminars or lectures are allowed during the semester.

4.5 In order to excuse absence from lectures, classes, seminars, final colloquium, exam, the student should provide appropriate document at the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine. It is a medical or other certificate confirming exceptional circumstances independent of the Student. The certificate must be submitted within a maximum of 7 working days of the absence. If the above-mentioned period is exceeded, the absence will be considered unexcused.

4.6 a. In the case of excused absence from classes, the student is obliged to know the material from a given topic in the next meeting and get a credit during oral answer. In excused cases, the student may, with the consultation of the person conducting the classes, arrange a date for doing classes at a time convenient for both. If the student fails to pass the oral answer, the student is not admitted to the final colloquium which results in automatic failure to pass the semester.

b. In the case of an excused absence at seminars, the student obtains credit on the basis of a written / oral test including the material of the seminar after the end of the seminar cycle of the given semester / or at the next seminar. Failure to pass the test means that student will not be allowed to take the the final colloquium which results in automatic failure to pass the semester.

c. In the case of an excused absence from the lecture, the student is required to take the written / oral test including the material of the lecture after the lecture cycle of the given semester. Failure to pass the test means that the student will not be admitted to the final colloquium which results in automatic failure to pass the semester.

4.7 Not excused absence from class, seminars, lectures; final colloquium or exam results in failing to complete the semester, final colloquium and exam, respectively.

4.8 More than 2 excused absences from the subject result in failure to pass the semester.

4.9 In the case of an excused absence at the exam, the student shall proceed to the next date as his/her first date and is allowed to write two exam retakes.

5. Conditions and manner of awarding credits in a semester

5.1 Lectures

a. Student gets a passing grade based upon presence and active participation in lectures.

b. All topics and materials given during the lecture will be included in the final colluquiums and exam.

5.2 Practical classes

a. Theoretical knowledge may be checked orally during each practical class. Required knowledge includes subject of present practical class and all previous practical classes. Passing of each class is evaluated upon active participation during current practical class. In case of lack of answers for the questions asked by the teacher student may fail to pass a practical class, and will be obliged to retake this class basing on the rules and regulations described in paragraph 4.

b. Information about material and knowledge required for practical classes must be provided at least one week before these classes.

c. Topics of practical classes are given in a form of a schedule on a website of the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine and posted on an information board at the department.

5.3 Seminars

a. The seminars are conducted in the from of multimedia presentations prepared by and presented by students.

b. Topics of seminars are given in a form of a schedule on a website of the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine and posted on an information board at the department.

c. At each seminar, two people prepare 30-45 minute presentations.

d. The student gets credit for the seminars on the basis of the assessment of the presented topic, substantive activity and cooperation during classes. A student who does not demonstrate knowledge in the given seminar may fail the seminar, which results in the necessity to pass them on the terms described in point 4 of the regulations.

5.4 The Final Credit

a. The fourth semester ends with a final pass in Pathology, including 60 test questions, assessed according to the following score:

0-35 points - unsatifactory-failed

36-41 points - satisfactory

42-47 points - satisfactory plus

48-53 points- good

54-56 points- good plus

≥57 points - very good

For those with an excused absence, there will be one common additional date set by the course coordinator.

b. In the case of obtaining an unsatisfactory grade for the final credit, the student is entitled to one retake date assessed according to the above-mentioned criteria. In the case of an unsatisfactory grade, the student is not awarded a course of Pathology, and thus is not admitted to the next semester, which requires the student to repeat the fourth semester.

c. The final credit covers the scope of material from classes, seminars, lectures according to the schedule posted at the beginning of the semester on the website of the Department of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine of the UWM and the notice board located inDepartment.

d. For the final credit, the student receives an answer sheet which he/she fills in in block letters. Only the answer sheet is evaluated. If the student changes the answer on the above-mentioned card, next to the crossed out and changed answer, the student should put the signature.

e. The person responsible for conducting the final test and providing the thematic scope is the course coordinator or a person appointed by her.

f. The student should be informed about the scope of the material no later than 2 weeks before the planned colloquium.

g. Any doubts and substantive reservations regarding the questions asked during the test should be reported by the student during the course of the credit. The student writes his/her objections and comments on the back of the answer sheet.

h. The answer sheets will be available on the next day following the final pass date.

5.5 Examination

a. To take the Examination Student must pass all practical classes, seminars and lectures, and receive a final passing grade from both, IV-th and V-th semester.

b. The Examination is held after finishing whole educational cycle, and has a form of a multiple-choice-questions test. The Examination consists of theoretical part (75 questions) and practical part (5 questions), which are MCQ questions related to macroscopic and microscopic pictures presented on slides.

c. Material and knowledge required for the Examination includes all seminars, practical classes and lectures.

d. Along with the exam, the student receives an answer sheet, which he or she fills with big, legible letters. Only the answer sheet is evaluated. If the student changes the answer on the above-mentioned card, next to the crossed out and changed answer, the student should put the signature.

e. Coordinator of a Subject or a person designated by the Coordinator are responsible for the preparation, conduction and grading of the exam.

f. Scale of grades:

0-59% –  fail (niedostateczny - 2)

60-68% – satisfactory (dostateczny - 3)

69-76% – satisfactory plus (dostateczny plus – 3,5)

77-84% – good (dobry - 4)

85-92% – good plus (dobry plus – 4,5)

93-100% – very good (bardzo dobry – 5).

g. In case of failing grade from the First-Time Examination, Student has a right to retake the Examination twice, in written form, graded according to the rules of the First-Time Examination. There is no possibility to retake the Examination orally. The date of each Retake Examination will be set by the Coordinator of a Subject or a person designated by the Coordinator, and will be the same for every Student, who fails previous Examination or who was absent during previous Examination.

h. All doubts and controversies regarding the questions included in the test should be reported by the student during the exam. The student should write the comments on the reverse of the answer sheet.

i. Receiving positive (passing) grade from the Final Examination is necessary to obtain passing grade from the Subject of Pathology.

j The answer sheet can be viewed at the time designated by the Head of the Department. This date will be posted on the website immediately after the exam. Students will not be able to access the answer sheet at any other time. The examination test can be viewed after submitting an application to the Head of the Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department. The coordinator indicates the person who makes the test available to the student. While viewing the examination test, it is forbidden to use a mobile phone and a pen.

6. Academic rules of law and integrity.

a. It is forbidden to use textbooks, manuals, mobile phones and all kinds of electronic devices equipped with a camera, sound recording devices and such that enable communication with other people at a distance during any classes or especially during colloquia and final exam. Breaking this rule results in failing the final credit and/or exam without the possibility of improving the score and report to University's Disciplinary Committee.

b. It is unacceptable to communicate with other Students during the colloquia and the final exam. Breaking this rule results in failing the final exam without the possibility of the retake which results in failing the semester. The person conducting the final credit or exam decides about the above situation and notes it on Student's examination form. The above decision is irrevocable.

7. Issues not regulated in the presented regulations and policy of Pathology classes in Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department remain at the discretion of the Head of the Department.

8. Rules and Regulations of Pathology classes comply with the Rules and Regulations of the Studies of University of Warmia and Mazury and procedures applicable at the School of Medicine.

9. Student is required to read the Health & Safety Rules of Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department and EU GDPR directive.

10. Detailed description of Health & Safety Rules in force at the place of all of the classes.

a. In the autopsy room Student must be aware that that he/she is dealing with human corpses that should be given due seriousness and respect.

b. Access to the autopsy room have only these Students of University of Warmia and Mazury School of Medicine who have an identifier, medical attire and protective footwear.

c. It is strictly forbidden to introduce any bystander to the autopsy room or classroom.

d. It is forbidden to stay in the classroom or in the autopsy room outside of class hours and without the supervision of the Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department’s member.

e. It is strictly forbidden to make any photos or videos using electronic devices during the autopsy.

f. It is forbidden to leave the autopsy room without informing the assistant teacher.

g. It is not allowed to have any food products, drinks or chewing gum in the autopsy room or the classrooms.

h. Student is obliged to take care about personal computers, microscopes and any other devices which are located in the Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department.

i. For safety reasons please always make sure that the outside doors of the Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department are closed.

j. All rooms are subject to strict compliance with cleanliness and Health & Safety Rules.

k. It is strictly forbidden to smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes or drink an alcohol in the Pathomorphology and Forensic Medicine Department.

l. During all of the classes it is not allowed to wear any headgear other than that of religious worship.

11. The Regulations enter into force on February 14, 2024.