Adult Hematology and Oncology

Program Description:

Blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen disease conditions have a relatively high prevalence and incidence both as a primary disease in these organs and as a sign of other infectious, inflammatory and nutritional diseases. Sometimes they may be the presentation of serious internal or surgical diseases. In addition, there are a considerable number of patients with anemia, thalassemia, hemophilia, and sickle cell anemia throughout the world and in our country that are in need of a high health expenditure and facilities.  Adult hematology and oncology course is being taught for about four decades in the world and has been an independent course for more than two decades in Iran. The past decade witnessed tremendous evolutions in this area and according to new therapies and modern diagnostic methods, it is necessary to review the scope and curriculum of the field. Program development, and more importantly, the proper implementation of the program are the initial tools for education and its gradual and frequent modifications. Profound changes in education demands serious financial, intellectual investment and dynamic participation of experienced and motivated professors. This program was developed by participation of relevant faculty members and using curricula of reliable universities of the world. After numerous revision sessions, it was finalized and given to universities for execution. The developers of the program will welcome valuable comments of experts in this subspecialized for use revising the program in future. 

Definition

Adult hematology and oncology is one of internal medicine subspecialties, where all disorders of blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen and variety of cancers are examined, investigated, managed and followed.  
This sub specialized course is mainly clinical and has laboratory-related aspects. Furthermore, examining and isolating blood components such as platelets, red blood cell, white blood cells and stem cells and plasma, and their therapeutic use are covered in this subspecialty.  
Adult hematologists/oncologists collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to perform all therapeutic procedures of cancer patient. 
 Reasons for the necessity of this course:  
-    High incidence of different kinds of cancer 
-    High incidence of hematologic diseases such as thalassemia, hemophilia and sickle cell anemia in our country 
-    The impact of hematologic diseases on the growth, puberty and development of children - The impact of hematologic diseases on the overall quality of the patients and their families. 
-    Rapid advances in the past two decades in the field 
-    Development of clinical and laboratory aspects 
-    The development of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures 
-    The high cost and the need for rational administration of medications in this field 
-    Development of production, purification, filtration and administration of blood products 
-    Development of molecular methods and prenatal diagnosis