Medical Parasitology

Program Description:

PhD degree in Medical Parasitology is the highest level of education and is an old field dealing with parasitic animal species, mostly living in or on the human body and causing infections or diseases which are dangerous for human health and life. Some of the parasites cause zoonotic diseases.

Medical Parasitology is an old discipline focusing on parasitic diseases studied by scientists and researchers. Avicenna, about one thousand years ago, observed a number of parasites in the human body. He described some of them (such as worms) which were visible by naked eyes. Avicenna also noted signs of some parasitic diseases whose agents were not visible at that time. Parasitic diseases are important among other infectious diseases because despite many efforts to combat them, they are still causing mortality and irreparable difficulties in human societies worldwide.

Several studies were performed in various areas of parasitic diseases by using new technologies and advanced sciences such as taxonomy, immunology, biochemistry, epidemiology, biotechnology, pharmacology and genetics. They helped identify parasites, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and control of some parasitic diseases and illustrate the importance of a number of parasitic diseases including immergence and reemergence diseases. The widespread scientific progress in the field of parasitic diseases entails the need for developing educational programs and training PhD graduates in Medical Parasitology in the country. Training specialists who will contribute to health research is also of prime importance in this program.

The mission of this PhD program is to train experts and specialists in basic medical sciences. The graduates will perform activities and give services to promote scientific research and education in Medical Parasitology. Moreover, they endeavor to promote human health by removing the harms caused by parasites. 

The graduates of this program will be able to use the most recent achievements, in science and related fields in Medical Parasitology, for training and research programs, health services and laboratory activities. They will be able to use their knowledge, skills and creativity in solving problems in the field and for identifying parasites, parasitic agents, and laboratory diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases caused by parasites.

The aims of the program are:

• Training specialists, researchers and teachers to teach, conduct research studies and provide services in the field of Medical Parasitology in medical universities, institutions of higher education, and research centers in the country
• Training experts who will be engaged in collecting, evaluating, producing, innovation, development and transfer of science and technology

Objectives:

Expected Competencies at the End of the Program

General Competencies*

Specific Competencies and skills Professional tasks of graduates

• Cooperating with executive institutes in identifying, combating and controlling parasitic diseases

Reporting results of studies and projects carried out to be used in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of parasitic diseases

• Evaluating operational health programs in the areas of prevention and control of parasitic diseases

Planning and developing courses of parasitology at different levels of academic settings

Monitoring the implementation and evaluation of educational programs of Medical Parasitology training courses

• Organizing and managing teaching and working with clinicians and other clinical and laboratory staff

Teaching theoretical and practical courses of Medical Parasitology in postgraduate, General Doctorate of Medical Sciences, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and associate degree of Laboratory Sciences

• Organization and management of research

Design and conduct of research projects and participation in action planning

• Cooperation with other specialists and researchers 

Selection of basic and applied research projects focusing on parasitic diseases

• Establishment of practical techniques in identifying pathogenic human parasites and laboratory diagnosis of parasitic infections