Department of Physiology

About Department

The Department of Physiology was established in June 1989 as a constituent unit of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Medical College, Pune. It is committed to providing a comprehensive knowledge of how the human body works at different levels and prepares students to become successful physiology experts.

Academic Curriculum

Our department follows the CBME curriculum that focuses on self-directed learning. The curriculum has been structured in a way that provides early clinical exposure. We have developed in-house resources for amphibian and clinical experiments. These resources are available to students that help them with revisions.

Other Academic Programmes

Aside from the core medical courses, our physiology department offers courses like B.D.S., B.Sc. Skills, and B.Sc. Nursing and Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPTh).

Infrastructure Facilities

The Department of Physiology is located on the 2nd floor of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College building. It is spread over an area of about 1000 square meters. It has well-equipped undergraduate practical laboratories (hematology, clinical, and mammalian), lecture-demonstration rooms for small group teaching, a library cum seminar room, a research lab, and well-furnished faculty rooms. ICT facilities are available in the classrooms and demonstration rooms.

Co-curricular Activities

The Department of Physiology ensures the holistic development of our students. Aside from conventional teaching, the department conducts co-curricular activities viz. seminars, quizzes, and guest lectures. Students are encouraged to participate in activities like preparing models and charts. They are also motivated to undertake small research projects and give presentations at various conferences.

Recognition

The Physiology Department has an M.C.I. recognized postgraduate (M.D.) department where 15 students have completed post-graduation so far.2 students have been offered PhD in Physiology.

Faculty

Our highly qualified faculty members are enthusiastic and dedicated to teaching and research. In addition to the mandatory requirement of an M.D. in Physiology and training in medical education technology, they have pursued various other courses. Our faculty members are also on editorial boards of various research journals and act as reviewers for various journals.

Teaching-Learning Activities

The schedule of our teaching-learning activities is given below:

495 hours

Teaching

160 hours

Lecture

310 hours

Practical’s

25 hours

Self-directed learning

30 hours

Early clinical exposure

Highlights

Academic Activities

The Department of Physiology follows the CBME curriculum.
It focuses on self-directed learning.
The inclusion of ‘Clinical Problems’ in theory and practical examination makes the students clinically oriented.
The Physiology department follows a computer-assisted teaching-learning methodology using in-house-made educational CDs.
It focuses on teaching CPR techniques and clinical skills using simulation.
It conducts quizzes and small group discussions.
The Department encourages the U.G. students to participate in national conferences conferences, ‘Model preparation competition’ in in house research conference, and State level Physiology conferences.

Faculty

Dr. Gayatri Godbole has completed D.N.B. (Physiology – 2017), BLS & ACLS instructor renewal course in 2020 and simulation-based advanced medical course in 2021.
Dr. Madhuvanti Karandikar & Dr. Pranita Ashok have completed their Ph.D. in Medical Physiology.
BLS & ACLS course has been done by Dr Saira Bano and Dr. Salunke in 2021.
Dr. Asmita Phadke has completed an advanced diploma in medical education (ACME) conducted by Seth G.S. Medical College & KEM hospital in 2015 – 16.
Dr Mrs Anuradha R. Joshi has attended CISP workshop in March 2019 at GSMC, Mumbai as Curriculum Committee member of Medical College.
Dr. Mrs. Anuradha R. Joshi is reviewer for Lung India & Journal of transport & health.
Dr. Asmita Phadke is a reviewer for the National Journal of Integrated Research in Medicine & International Journal of Case reports and Images.

Lab Facilities

Our labs are equipped with sophisticated apparatus like a physiograph for studying various physiological parameters that help improve students’ understanding of various physiological phenomena.
Our Power lab has the facility to conduct autonomic function tests.
Instead of performing actual amphibian experiments, our students use modern software to perform the same.
The simulation lab is used for CPR, recording of various physiological parameters such as Blood pressure, pulse, venous pressure etc.

Achievements

We are proud of the achievements of our dedicated faculty members and students for their outstanding contribution to research, education, and healthcare.

Dr. Pranita Ashok was awarded the real superwoman award in 2020 by FSIA (Forever Star India Awards), felicitated by The Times Group at the ‘Icons of Health Pune 2021’ programme, and awarded the title of ‘Strong Health Pillar of UMZ’ (2020–2021).
Miss Riya Gulve, an undergraduate student, was selected as the ambassador for the ‘International Conference for healthcare & Medical Students’ by the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland (2021–2022).

Our Vision

To provide comprehensive knowledge of the normal functioning of organ systems of the body to facilitate an understanding of the physiological basis of health and diseases and help students to develop knowledge of medicines.

Our Mission

To conduct intercollegiate undergraduate quizzes
To develop a state-of-the-art physiology laboratory
To conduct extensive community-based research
To develop a function test laboratory

Objectives

We have formulated specific learning objectives for the Cognitive, Psychomotor, and Affective domains to achieve competency.

Cognitive

To explain the normal functioning of all the organ systems of the body and their interactions.
To discuss the basic physiological regulating mechanisms of the human body in depth.
To analyze coordination of regulating mechanisms to maintain the milieu interior.
To underline the applied aspect in pathogenesis (pathophysiology) and discuss the physiological basis of treatment of some of the diseases.
To describe the physiological response and adaptations to environmental stresses.
To integrate the knowledge of organ structure, function, and its regulatory mechanisms.

Programme Outcomes

The schedule of our teaching-learning activities is given below:

Explain the normal functioning of all the organ systems of the body and their coordinated activity for total body functions.
Describe the contribution of each organ system to the maintenance of the milieu interior.
Elucidate the physiological aspects of normal growth and development.
Describe the physiological response and adaptations to environmental stresses.
List the physiological principles underlying pathogenesis and treatment of some of the diseases.

Affective

To demonstrate self-awareness and personal development in routine conduct. (Self-awareness)
To develop effective communication with peers, students, and teachers in various teaching-learning activities. (Communication)
To behave with due respect with the volunteers while conducting clinical practical’s. (Ethics & Professionalism)
To ensure not to let his/her personal beliefs, prejudices, and limitations come in the way of duty.
To appreciate the issues of equity and social accountability while making students experience early clinical exposure. (Equity and social accountability)

Psychomotor

To demonstrate competencies mentioned primarily for the study of physiological phenomena or assessment of function i.e. human and animal experiments, hematology experiments, and experiments based on biophysical principles.
To maintain experimental/investigative data derived from the various tests done in the laboratory and compare the normal and the abnormal results.
To demonstrate clinical examination skills.

Labs

The Department of Physiology has well-equipped laboratories that meet the national and international research standards. The laboratories include the Hematology lab, the Animal Physiology lab, the Clinical lab, and the research labs. These labs have modern equipment like a physiograph to facilitate experiments and research. Furthermore, our department houses a power lab that conducts autonomic function tests. Aside from the modern equipment, our labs are also equipped with the latest software to conduct amphibian experiments in an unconventional way.