THE FOUNDATION MODULE

Assalam u Alaikum D’26. Hope you all are going well with your First Year. By now you would
have become somehow familiar with DOW Online Classes. Now as you all know this is your
Foundation Module. It is the Builder of the Base. Although it seems to be the easiest module &
many people claim this so but I disagree from this notion. Foundation Module is although very
easy but its length & spread of topics neutralizes its ease. But In Sha Allah you all will do it well.
Believe me, it is as simple as a cake to score good in Foundation Module. So let’s start…

REMOVAL OF MYTHS:
First, I would like to eradicate the myths related to the Medical life & study.

• You would not have to study all the time. Believe me, if you study 24/7, you will be
exhausted soon.
• Give an optimum of 2 hours to study each day. Then do whatever you want, play, sleep,
read, listen etc.
• In the start don’t study much in the weekends. But when the Module is going towards its
end, give only 2 to 4 hours to study in the weekend as well. There is no need to spend
the whole weekend in studying.
• If you are becoming a doctor that doesn’t mean that you should cut yourself away from
the society. I attend the ceremonies, hangouts & weddings in my family regularly with no
difficulty.

SUBJECTS:
The subjects in Foundation Module are:

Majors/Importants Minors
Anatomy Pharmacology
Physiology Community Medicine
Biochemistry Behavioral Sciences
Histology Bioethics
Embryology Skills
Pathology
Microbiology

SYLLABUS:
The Specific Topics & Syllabus is given in the DUHS Foundation Module Guide. Click on the link
below for it;
https://www.duhs.edu.pk/curriculum/downloads/FOUNDATION%20MODULE%20GUIDE%20201
9-20190804.pdf . I will discuss it here in a nutshell;
1. Anatomy:
Introduction:
Anatomy is my favorite subject. If you want to pursue Surgery in the Future then you
should skill Anatomy. It is basically the study of Structure of the Body. Foundation
Anatomy is quite simple but a bit conceptual. You will be learning Anatomical
Terminologies, Planes, Positions, and Movements etc. Then there will be the brief or
descriptive overviews of body’s major systems namely, the Musculoskeletal, Nervous,
Circulatory, Lymphatic & Integumentary systems.
Books to follow:
Clinically Oriented Anatomy by Keith L. Moore (a.k.a. KLM Anatomy) is the best book. It
will cover all the topics in a smooth way.
Rest you can also follow Gray’s Anatomy for Students.
Many seniors would recommend B.D. Chaurasia’s Handbook of General Anatomy but I
will not. Only do Muscles, Joints, and Bones from it.
Rest stick to KLM or Gray’s. You will have to cover first section of anyone of these two
books. Nervous System should be done thoroughly as it is much conceptual and high-
yield.
Teachers good at Anatomy:
Professor Naheed Khan is the HOD Anatomy at DIMC and Chief Module Coordinator
DUHS, she is probably the best Anatomy teacher. Her Nervous System lectures are very
important.
Dr. Sabahat Zaidi is an excellent Lecturer of Anatomy & a Module Coordinator at DMC
Take all of her assigned lectures. Her Lecture of Typical Spinal Nerve is very very very
important. Don’t miss it.
Dr. Mohni Bai is also an expert Lecturer of Anatomy. She has very good information &
knowledge of the subject.
Dr. Zaheer Amjad is also an experienced teacher.
2. Physiology:
Introduction:
Physiology is the study of Functions done by the body. Physiology is quite small &
simple in this module. You will have to cover the Homeostasis & Feedback, Cell & its
Components, Cellular Transports (Diffusion, Osmosis etc.), ECM Physiology, Cell
Signaling, Resting Membrane Potential & Action Potential plus few brief concepts of
Genetics; Gene, replication, transcription, translation etc.
Books to follow:
The only book is Guyton & Hall textbook of Medical Physiology (a.k.a. Guyton Physiology).
Dow Papers always have lines from it. Rattafy the composition of Cell Membrane, Values
of R.M.P., and Examples of Transports from it. They are always asked in assessment.
Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Cover Cell Signaling from Lecture slides or from Chap. 75.
Teachers good at Physiology:
 Professor Sikandar Adil Mughal is the HOD Physiology. He is a good teacher. He gives
grace marks to those students who participate in his class.
Professor Mozaffer Rahim is also an excellent teacher, his lectures are always full of
sufficient clinical information.
Dr. Khalid Siddiqui is a very friendly teacher of Physiology who gives very efficient
Clinical information.
Dr. Fareeha Butt always gives various tricks to learn the difficult topics.
Dr. Erum Afaq, Dr. Ghazala Masood, Dr. Afshan Mehboob, Dr. Shahneela Siraj and Dr.
Meraj Rahim are also good teachers who explain the topic very well.
3. Biochemistry:
Introduction:
Biochemistry is also among my favorites. It usually covers all the Physiological topics
from the Molecular Point of view.
For Theory you will be covering some Physiochemistry (Water, Buffers, pH), descriptive
accounts on the 4 main Biomolecules i.e. Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids & Nucleic Acids,
Enzymes, Gene Expression with Regulation, Electron Transport Chain and an overview of
Vitamins & Minerals in this module.
For Practical there will be Spectroscopy, Stock Solution preparations, Biomolecule
detections & Enzymatic analyses. Many seniors will say that Practicals & Labs aren’t
essential; please don’t follow this notion of them. All labs are essential now as they will
be assessed in Internal Evaluation.
Books to follow:
Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews on Biochemistry is a standard book used for Medical
Biochemistry. It comprises of to-do-the point informative & illustrative Illustrations,
Summaries & Flow Charts to develop good concepts. But the major snag is that it
doesn’t cover the whole Biochemistry.
For this you can either cover the Slides for the topics not mentioned in Lippincott or
follow Medical Biochemistry by Chatterjee. Chatterjee is also a good book but Lippincott
is the best.
Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry is a post-graduate level book & can be used as a
reference source.
Review of Medical Biochemistry by Faiq Ahmed is a book used for revision but lecture
slides & Lippincott Summaries + Flow charts are enough for review purposes.
Teachers good at Biochemistry:
Professor Syed Danish Haseen is an excellent teacher of Biochemistry at the Campus.
Professor Fauzia Imtiaz is the HOD DMC & Chairperson Biochemistry DUHS, she is very
kind and has a motherly behavior to the students.
Professor Zeba Haque is the HOD Biochemistry at DIMC. She is also a good teacher and
infuses a spirit of mysticism while teaching.
Dr. Bilal Azmi, Dr. Mehnaz Nuruddin and Dr. Arisha Salman also very enthusiastic
teachers of the subject.
4. Histology:
Introduction:
Histology is a boring subject but as you will do it further the interest in it will increase. In
the Foundation Module there will be General Histology only; covering basic concepts of
Microscopy, Detailed accounts on Cell (Membrane, Organelles, Junctions, Cytoskeleton,
Modifications, Inclusions etc.), Epithelia, Exocrine Glands, Connective Tissue & Muscular
tissue. Skin histology is not included now in Foundation Module. But do be updated on
this topic, ask Dr. Sabahat about it before the Module ends.
Books to follow:
Medical Histology by Laiq Hussain Siddiqui is a good book and makes this dry subject
much absorbable. Dow paper is made from this book.
Rest Wheater’s Functional Histology is an excellent book for Histology, see the pictures
from it as they come in the Theory tests & assessments.
Observe the microscopic slides in the Labs thoroughly as they would be asked in Internal
Evaluation.
Junqueira’s Basic Histology is the Standard book of Histology. DUHS lectures are made
from it. But as it is a post-graduate level book, use it as a reference book.
Teachers Good in Histology:
Dr. Sarwat Jabeen, Dr. Ayesha Abdul Haq and Dr. Sahar Mubeen are Associate Professors
of Anatomy and skill in Histology.
Dr. Soofia Tabassum is probably the senior-most Anatomy faculty member at DMC. She
has taught many generations. Though her voice is feeble but her given info is worth
taking.
5. Embryology:
Introduction:
Embryology is the study of God’s existence. It covers the Human Development in
Medical Parlance. Foundation Embryology is a bit easy, a bit conceptual & becomes
ratta-based at the end. You will have to cover the Cell Cycle, Gametogenesis,
Fertilization, Detailed Development up to 3 weeks, an overview of Embryonic Period &
Highlights of Fetal Period, Placenta, Multiple Pregnancies, Embryonic & Extra-embryonic
membranes, Teratogenesis and Prenatal Diagnosis.
Books to follow:
The Developing Human; Clinically Oriented Embryology by Keith L. Moore (a.k.a. KLM
Embryology) is the best book to study embryology.
Langman’s Medical Embryology by T.W. Saddler is also a very good book.
You can follow anyone of them while doing Embryology.
Sharjeel’s Embryology by Sharjeel Usmani is a good review book but it has date issues,
instead, do revision from the Langman’s Embryology or Lecture Slides.
Teachers good of Embryology:
 Dr. Ayesha Abdul Haq is also proficient in teaching Embryology. Her lectures would
prove to be very important.
Professor Imtiaz Ali Waggan is the HOD Anatomy at DMC. He is good at Embryology.
Although he relays on Lecture Slides but is still a good teacher of Embryology.
Dr. Mahrukh Kamran and Dr. Sahar Mubeen also teach the subject with great zeal.
6. Pharmacology:
Introduction:
Pharmacology is the study of drugs administered to a patient. Being a Clinical Subject,
Pharmacology isn’t much lengthy in the first two years. In Foundation Module you will be
studying the Introduction, Routes of Drug Administration, Dosage Regimens, Drug
Reactions & Interactions, and Overviews on Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics.
Books to follow:
Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews on Pharmacology is a good & preferred book to cover
Foundation Pharmacology.
Rest you can do the subject from Katzung & Trevor’s Review of Basic & Clinical
Pharmacology as well.
Teachers good at Pharmacology:
Professor Saud Hasan is the HOD Pharmacology at DMC and the best teacher in
Pharmacology.
Professor Shamaila Khalid is the Vice Principal DMC & a professor of Pharmacology.
7. Pathology:
Introduction:
Pathology is the study of Abnormalities present in the Human body.
Foundation Pathology is quite simple; including the pathological aspects of a cell; Stress,
Injury, Death & Accumulations.
Books to follow:
Robbin’s & Cotran Pathologic Basis of disease is the standard book for studying
Pathology. Don’t go anywhere else for Pathology. The blue boxes & orange blocks of
Basis are very essential to excel in the exam.
If the topic is not understood in the class then watch the Video Lectures of Fundamentals
of Pathology; Pathoma by Husain A. Sattar.
Teachers good at Pathology:
Pathology lectures are usually assigned Module-wise to a teacher i.e. a single teacher
delivers almost all the Pathology lectures in a Module. Some of the good teachers of
Pathology at DMC. are Dr. Hina Abbas, Dr. Shaima Sultana Memon, & Prof. Tazeen
Mustansar.
8. Microbiology:
Introduction:
Microbiology goes parallel with Pathology, but Pathology derives its roots from
Physiology and Microbiology stems out as a combination of Bacteriology, Virology &
Mycology. Foundation Microbiology usually covers Basic Bacteriology including Bacterial
 Cell Structure, Growth, Staining, Genetics, Medical Taxonomy, Pathogenesis & Culture,
and Sterilization & Disinfection.
Books to follow:
The one & only book is Review of Medical Microbiology & Immunology by Warren
Levinson. Cover the first section of this book leaving few chapters which aren’t
mentioned in the DUHS Module Guide.
Teachers good at Microbiology:
Dr. Sambreen Zameer & Professor Pushpa Vali Ram are the two Microbiologists teaching
at DMC. Both are good teachers of the subject.
9. Community Medicine:
Introduction:
Community Medicine (a.k.a. CM) is a comprehensive & descriptive subject covering the
preventive aspects of Medicine on the society. Not so important from assessment point
of view, CM is the developer of good marks because at least 5 questions come from this
subject every time in Modular tests & Annual Exams. Foundation CM will consist of
Introduction, Origin & Determinants of a Disease, Health System Research & Healthy
City.
Books to follow:
Don’t follow a book for CM. Slides are more than enough. Your main subjects are the
ones described above. Cover Healthy City from the following link;
https://www.who.int/healthy_settings/types/cities/en/
Teachers good at CM:
Professor Nighat Nisar is the H.O.D. Community Medicine.
Professor Zulfiqar Shaikh and Dr. Ashraf Jahangeer are also good teachers.
10. Behavioral Sciences:
Introduction:
Behavioral Sciences (a.k.a. BS) are included in Curriculum to teach the Medical Students
the Social aspects of Clinical Practice. Foundation BS topics are Introduction, Culture, and
related topics. Star Doctor & LEARN Model are frequently asked in the Theory papers.
Books to follow:
Slides are more than enough.
Teachers good in Behavioral Sciences:
Miss Sahar Fatima is a competent Psychologist at DMC and teaches with great zeal.
Miss Uzma Jillani is also a good teacher of the subject.
Dr. Shafi Mansoori is also a good Psychiatrist and a good teacher as well.
11. Bioethics:
Introduction:
Like BS, Bioethics is included in the Curriculum to make us a good & well-mannered
doctors. Bioethics is only in Foundation Module. The topics are Introduction, Clinical
Ethics, and Truth Telling & Plagriasm.
 Books to follow:
Slides are more than enough.
Teachers for Bioethics:
Professor Zulfiqar Shaikh usually takes Bioethics classes.
12. Medical Skills:
Skills are usually taught in the Undergraduate Skills Lab located at 2nd Floor at the New
Building. Take the Labs with proper attention. Foundation Module will comprise of First
Aid & C.P.R. as skills. Handouts will be provided to you prior to every session.
Pakistan Studies & Islamiat:
Although not confirmed, but these subjects might be a part of Curriculum now. Ask Dr.
Sabahat or Madam Zohra for this from Admin Block.

Dr. Najeeb’s Video Lectures:

Dr. Najeeb is a teacher who delivers video lectures. Visit the website
https://www.drnajeeblectures.com/. The subscription is very cheap now. You must watch his
Embryology lectures in the Foundation Module. Otherwise, he has also delivered the Physiology,
Pathology, Biochemistry & Histology of Foundation Module very well.

Medicine with Moeez:

Seeing the circumstances at stake and the improving Medical education standards, I have
created a YouTube Channel by the Grace of God in which I'll be uploading the videos on
Academic Medical topics. Some videos are already uploaded and others are in the pipeline and
will be in the uploaded soon InShaAllah.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1a4FQIGIJHwYN5054V_9nQ

ASSESSMENT PLAN:
For now there are four phases of assessment:

Internal Evaluation
Modular Test
Annual Exam
Structured Viva
Internal Evaluation:

Internal Evaluation will be done during the Practical Classes. They will comprise of attendance,
participation and KAP (Knowledge-Attitude-Perception) of the topic.
Modular Test:

The Modular test will be conducted at the end of each Module or semester online at Dow
Online Examination System (https://exams1.duhs.edu.pk/). It will comprise of 100 Multiple
Choice Questions (M.C.Qs.). We can grossly divide the questions into 4 Categories;

Best Choice Questions (B.C.Qs.): Basic concepts and clinical case based M.C.Qs.

Objective Structured Practical Questions (O.S.P.E.): Pictorial Questions. The Pictures usually
come from the prescribed textbooks.

Case Based Learning (C.B.L.): A Clinical Case is given and few questions are asked in it.

Extended Matching Questions (E.M.Qs.): Although discontinued, they comprise of some

questions with same options.

Annual Exam:

The Annual Exam will be conducted for every taught module at the end of each academic year.
It will comprise of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (M.C.Qs.). We can grossly divide the questions
into 4 Categories. (See above)

Structured Viva:

At the end of the Examinations there would be a Structured Viva. There are Viva Stations
alternated with Rest Stations. Each station lasts 5 minutes & the schedule + timings are
uploaded on the D.U.H.S. website at least one day earlier.

SOME IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR ASSSESSMENT:

Important O.S.P.Es.:
1. Neurulation (From KLM Embryology)
2. Cell Surface Membrane (From Guyton Physiology)
3. Sodium Potassium Pump (From Guyton Physiology)
4. Chorionic Villus Sampling (From KLM Embryology)
5. Human Skeleton (See in Past papers)
6. Menstrual cycle (From Langman & KLM Embryology)
7. Transcription (From Lippincott)
8. Micrographs of Epithelia, Connective & Muscular Tissues (From Wheater’s Histology)
9. Germinal Layers & Yolk Sac (from KLM Embryology)
10. Bacterial Cell (From Levinson)
11. Bacterial Cell Wall & Extensions (from Levinson)
12. Isotonic, Hypotonic & Hypertonic Solutions (from Guyton Physiology)
Important C.B.Ls.:
1. Klinefelter’s Syndrome 4. Ion Imbalance & Edema
2. Turner’s Syndrome 5. Twin Pregnancies
3. Down’s Syndrome

Expected Viva Stations:

1. Gross Anatomy 4. Biochemistry
2. Histology + Embryology 5. Pathology + Microbiology
3. Physiology
So this sums up the discussion for now. At the end I would wish you all the best for this Module.
Make a target of scoring 80+ marks in Foundation. If you accomplish this, I guarantee that your
Progress & will be maintained. M.B.B.S. is not hard, just be smart. It is you who are chosen by
God to save His finest Creation so thank God and feel confident. Ginny Weasley once said;

“Anything’s Possible if you got enough Nerve.”

Feel free to ask if you have any queries.

Regards,

Moeez Tariq

D’24