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Department of Medical Physiology

Chair of Department
Dr. Ng’wena A. G. Magak, BSc, MSc, PhD
About Us

About Medical Physiology

The Department of Medical Physiology is one of the preclinical Departments at the School of Medicine, Maseno University.  Established in August 2011, the department started teaching Medical Physiology Courses to the pioneer Maseno University MBChB students in January 2012.  The department is based at the Siriba Campus of Maseno University located along the Kisumu-Busia road.  Medical Physiology is one of the core disciplines in preclinical training and is designed to help the graduates to understand many aspects of human body functions in health and disease.  Presently the Department offers Medical Physiology courses to MMED (general surgery), MMED (Obys/Gyne), MBChB, BSc Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences’ students.  The Department also offers an MSc degree in Medical Physiology.  The academic staff comprise both clinicians and scientist who are supported by a team of technical staff who handle the students’ practicals.

The Department delivers the physiology part of the MBChB, BSc Nursing and MLS curricula through spiraling systemic teaching approach that begins with Cell biology, skin and genetics and then progresses to Blood and immune system, Endocrine system, Nervous and Musculo-skeletal systems, Urinary system, Digestive system, Reproductive system, Cardiovascular system and Respiratory system. The main research areas of the faculty and postgraduate student in the department include; Exercise physiology, Cancer, Diabetes herbal interventions’ efficacy, endocrine and metabolic disorders in HIV, nephrology and reproductive health. 

Our Vision

To be The Department of Excellence in generating and disseminating knowledge

Our Mission

To generate and share knowledge on mechanisms underlying human body function disorders and the possible intervention approaches that can alleviate human suffering. 

 

The Course

Undergraduate Programmes

MBChB

The MBChB, BSc Nursing and MLS programs equip the graduates with adequate knowledge, skills, professional attitudes and competencies in clinical care and community health services.  The programs prepare the graduates to provide quality service in Kenya, regionally and beyond. The programs are also tailored to adequately prepare the graduates to undertake health research, and play a significant role in generating new knowledge through prospective medical research. 

 

Year1:Semester1,2 &3

• MBS 101: Medical Physiology I

Year2:Semester1,2 &3

• MBS 201: Medical Physiology II

 

Courses Offered

Year1:Semester1,2 &3

·         MNS 101: Medical Physiology

 

Year1:Semester1,2 &3

·         MNS 101: Medical Physiology

Year1:Semester 2

·         PMT 122: Human Physiology I

 

Year2:Semester 2

·         PMT 212: Human physiology II

The Course

Graduate Programmes

Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Physiology

Medical Physiology is one of the core preclinical courses that deals with the study of the Human body organ functions.  This field of study is very important in understanding many aspects of human health and disease.  The MSc Medical physiology program is therefore designed to enhance the skills of those who use the knowledge of human body organ functions in their profession to deliver clinical services, teach or carryout research.  The skills gained from this program will be very useful to clinicians and biomedical scientists who seek to improve and apply their understanding of normal human body functions and disease processes, and approach to disease diagnosis.  The program will equip the learner with knowledge of physiological functioning and an understanding body physiology at molecular levels.  This program offers a postgraduate training leading to the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Medical Physiology and on the overall it is intended to boost academics, research and clinical practice.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The goal of this program is to produce graduates proficient in medical physiology and its applications in human health and disease.

YEAR 1 SEMESTER ONE

MHP 801: Biochemistry and Biophysics Principles in Physiology    1C

MHP 802:Cell Physiology and Medical Genetics            1C

MHP 803: Laboratory Methods and Biosafety I            1C

MHP 804:Review of systemic physiology I                1C

MHP 805:Review of systemic physiology I                1C

MHP 806:Medical Endocrinology                    1C

MHP 807:Nervous system physiology                1C

Other Programmes (Biostatistics and Epidemiology    )                1R

 

SEMESTER TWO

MHP 808:Integumentary System                    1E

MHP 809:Blood and Immune Mechanisms                1E

MHP 810:Body fluids and Urinary physiology            1E

MHP 811:Respiratory system Physiology                1E

MHP 812:Cardiovascular system physiology                1E

MHP 813:Reproductive and developmental physiology        1E

MHP 814:Gastrointestinal system Nutrition and Metabolism    1E

MHP 815:Laboratory Methods and Biosafety II            1C

MHP 816:Musculoskeletal system Physiology            1E

Other programmes (Research methods)                        1R

 

YEAR TWO SEMESTER ONE AND SEMESTET TWO

 

MHP 899:        Research thesis   

 

Admission Requirements
Applicants eligible for admission into the program must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for admission into the Maseno University and the school of Medicine Master of Science programs. The applicant must be a holder of a first degree of Maseno University or other recognized institutions, in the areas of Zoology, Biomedical Sciences, BSc Medical lab, BSc Environmental health, BSc Clinical Medicine, MBChB, Nursing, Dental Surgery, B. Pharm and Veterinary medicine.

 

Duration of the Programme
The duration of the M.Sc degree (Medical Physiology) shall be two academic years consists of one year of course work and one year of research. Each academic year will run for two semesters.  The whole program shall normally not exceed four years.  


PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

  1. The programme shall normally consist of coursework, examination and thesis extending over a period of two academic years distributed over four semester of full time attendance. Regarding the thesis the program shall allow each student to focus on one specific field of research within the broad scope of Medical Physiology at cellular, tissue, organ, or organ system level.  
  2. The courses are categorized as CORE, ELECTIVES and REQUIRED.  Core courses are mandatory, while elective courses may be selected by the student from a list of Maseno University approved courses in order for the student to fulfill the full load requirement.  Required courses are mandatory and are offered by other Department/Schools within Maseno University
  3. The programme unit load shall consist of a minimum of 14 units and a maximum of 18 units of coursework, examination and thesis distributed over four semesters.  

MODE OF DELIVERY 

  1. The course contents will be delivered through regular lectures, overviews, tutorials, discussions, practical sessions and seminars. 
  2. Face to face sessions involving students and lecturers with 42 contact hours
  3. eLearning

Course Structure:

The students are required to take a minimum of seven units and a maximum of nine units per semester.

C-Core units

E-Elective units

 

R-Required units

Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Physiology

Medical Physiology is one of the core preclinical courses that deal with the study of the Human body organ functions

 

YEAR 1 SEMESTER ONE

MHP 801

Biochemistry and Biophysics Principles in Physiology

1C

MHP 802

Cell Physiology and Medical Genetics

1C

MHP 803

Laboratory Methods and Biosafety I

1C

MHP 804

Review of systemic physiology I

1C

MHP 805

Review of systemic physiology I

1C

MHP 806

Medical Endocrinology

1C

MHP 807

Nervous system physiology

1C

 

Other Programmes (Biostatistics and Epidemiology )

1R



SEMESTER TWO

MHP 808

Integumentary System

1E

MHP 809

Blood and Immune Mechanisms

1E

MHP 810

Body fluids and Urinary physiology

1E

MHP 811

Respiratory system Physiology

1E

MHP 812

Cardiovascular system physiology

1E

MHP 813

Reproductive and developmental physiology

1E

MHP 814

Gastrointestinal system Nutrition and Metabolism

1E

MHP 815

Laboratory Methods and Biosafety II

1C

MHP 816

Musculoskeletal system Physiology

1E

 

Other programs (Research methods)

1R

 

YEAR TWO SEMESTER ONE AND SEMESTER TWO

 

MHP 899

Research thesis

  7C