CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY

DR ADEKEMI LAYO KIYESI, FMCPath

The Current Head of Department

Chemical Pathology

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Chemical Pathology is one of the Departments in the Pathology arm of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences of the College of Medical Sciences at the Rivers State University. Chemical Pathology, also referred to as Clinical Chemistry or Clinical Biochemistry, is that branch of Pathology discipline which deals with the biochemical changes that occur in health and disease and the utilization of these biochemical changes in various fluids/tissues to screen, diagnose, monitor and prognosticate varied disease state.

The course is offered to first year clinical students (400 level) of the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery) program. We also offer a post graduate MSc. and Ph.D programmes in Chemical Pathology.

The Department is aimed at demonstrating and imparting to students and clinicians the potential to recognize altered physiological conditions (ill-health) based on the biochemical aberrations that tend to occur and accompanies diseased states.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY

The course highlights and emphasizes the following:

The central role which abnormalities of biochemical and metabolic functions of cells, tissue, and organs play in prevention, diagnosis, management and prognosis of disease state.
How these abnormalities of biochemical and metabolic function may be recognized by performing relevant tests (i.e. measurements of components of biological fluids, tissues or organs).
The need to interpret results of such tests. In the content of the clinical picture in individual patients.
To instil in the students the basic understanding of the processes that guide appropriate test ordering and empower them with the basic understanding of the science of interpretation of laboratory results for general clinical practice.

Staff list in the Department

Name	Rank	Area Of Specialization	Email
Dr. Collins Amadi	Senior Lecturer/Ag. HOD	General Endocrinology, Metabolic Disorders, Cancer Biology COVID-19 Biochemistry	collins.amadi@ust.edu.ng
Professor Chituru G. Orluwene	Professor	Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic Disorders	chituru.orluwene@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Emmanuel M. Owamagbe	Lecturer I	Metabolic Bone Diseases	emmanuel.owamagbe@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Bright C. Amadi	Lecturer II	Lipidology	amadi.bright@ust.edu.ng
Dr. Kelachi T. Wala	Lecturer II	Metabolic Disorders	wala.kelachi@ust.edu.ng
Nkeiruka J. Amadi		Research Lab. Scientist	nkeiruka_amadi@yahoo.com
Ibama Onengiyeofori	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	onengs4u@yahoo.com
Arit Okechukwu Nwogu	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	arietta457@gmail.com
Ekwueme Chioma	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	blessmiall@gmail.com
Nyeche Ihunda Joy	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	Jinjosh24@yahoo.com
Onuigwe Elsie Afoma	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	elsieonuigwe25@gmail.com
Egbunefu Lilian Oluchi	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	lilianegbunefu@gmail.com
Osiagor Josephine	Technologist I	Medical Lab. Scientist	josephineosiagor@gmail.com
Wenekanma Ruth Teddy	Admin Staff	Metabolic	ruthsele77@gmail.com

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Department is a service Department with its major duties and responsibilities been to handle courses for the undergraduate first year clinical students (400 level) of the University and also renders diagnostic services to RSUTH.

Specifically, the major academic function of the Department is to demonstrate and impart to students and clinicians the ability to recognize disease based on alteration of normal chemical compositions and biochemical mechanisms that occur with disease processes.

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

To effectively carry out its duties and responsibilities, the Department is structured into Academic and Clinical Service Units.

At the Academic Unit of the Department domiciled within the Rivers State University, we have adequate manpower and well-structured course content.

At the Clinical Service Unit of the Department with its operational base in RSUTH, we have in addition to the Medical Consultants, well-trained Medical Laboratory Scientists that conduct biochemical laboratory tests in addition to generating reliable laboratory tests results while the consultants interpret these results, conducts clinical consultations and expose the first year clinical students to patients with selected metabolic cases and those undergoing dynamic biochemical tests in the Metabolic Clinic of the Department.

The current Acting Head of Department oversees both Units in the University and RSUTH.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

Chemical Pathology is a dynamic specialty that appeals to individuals with a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, the ability to communicate and collaborate with other physicians, and the desire to teach. The program provides unlimited opportunities for the students to obtain the relevant theoretical, laboratory and clinical skills needed to excel in other core clinical courses during their sojourn in the Medicine/Surgery program. Each member of the Department is committed to sharing and expanding his/her knowledge and experience in line with the teaching mission of the program.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the Department include:

To inculcate in the students, during their training in the Department, the ability to recognize and make clinical diagnosis based on the biochemical changes in various disease conditions through well-structured and delivered lectures, practical, tutorials, seminars, and clinical scenarios.
To render diagnostic and consultancy services to RSUTH.
To expand the frontiers of knowledge through well-organized and properly executed research work.
To carry out such other duties as shall as shall be vested in it by the University authority.
To join hands with other departments of the University in the production of high level manpower for the nation’s health care delivery system.
To ensure that our products (students and graduates) can compete with others of the same level all over the world.