Second Year

Hematology / Oncology

Course Number: MDC 7023A

This objective of the course on Hematologic Diseases is to provide a solid foundation of knowledge regarding diseases of (a) blood cells and (b) disorders of hemostasis.  The course begins with a review of the biology of Hematopoiesis, with a focus on the control of blood cell proliferation and differentiation, followed by a set of lectures on the diseases that occur when the mechanisms that regulate the processes of blood cell proliferation and differentiation are disordered. Both the patho-physiology of Hematopoietic diseases, as well as the microscopic correlates, will be discussed in regards to the Hematologic Malignancies, with lectures on each of the following topics: (i) Myeloproliferative disorders and Myelodysplastic disorders; (ii) Bone marrow failure states and bone marrow transplantation as therapy for these states; (iii) the acute and chronic leukemias and plasma cell dyscrasias; and (iv) the lymphomas.

There will, in addition, be a lecture devoted to the evaluation of patients with anemia as well as the general approach to quantitative disorders of blood cells. The other major section of this course will focus on hemostasis and thrombosis. This will consist of a lecture reviewing the physiology of hemostasis, with attention both to the role of platelets and endothelial cells, as well as the role of the coagulation proteins and the naturally occurring anti-coagulant proteins. This will be followed by a lecture on the congenital and acquired bleeding disorders, and a lecture on the prothrombotic disorders, or so-called “hypercoaguable states”. Pharmacologic treatment options for these problems will be discussed in context by both clinical and basic science faculty.

Transfusion medicine will be covered is a specific lecture, and will be reviewed in a small group activity session. Small group activities and reviews of the scientific medical literature will be utilized to explore major topics, including (i) Aggressive Hematologic Malignancies; (ii) Cytopenias (low blood counts) and cytoses (elevated blood counts); (iii) Bleeding and Thrombotic disorders, and (iv) Transfusion medicine.