Mission/objectives:
i. Impart instruction in basic and applied Physiology
ii. Empower students with skills in clinical physiological procedures used in .medical practice
iii. Co-ordinate physiology teaching with other basic science and clinical departments in an integrated multidisciplinary fashion.
iv. Update teaching methods and physiology curriculum to keep students in touch with ongoing rapid developments in clinical practice
v. Continue to strengthen departmental research by strengthening existing high point research areas and encouraging new projects
Provide high quality clinical physiological measurements to the University Hospital and to the whole of Oman by using updated modern equipment and state - of - the art techniques.
The Department of Physiology of the College of Medicine SQU, has two divisions: Basic Physiology and Clinical Physiology located in the College of Medicine and the University Hospital, respectively.
Over the past year the department of Physiology has taken long strides in teaching, research and clinical services. Contributions of the department to system courses teaching as well as applied medical sciences was well appraised by students and external examiners alike. The department has geared up for the delivery of the new integrated curriculum, the first phase of which is to begin in the spring semester of 2009. The department is also prepared to conduct a masters course in Physiology. Apart from medical courses, Introductory courses for Nursing students are given, as also a course in Pathophysiology for nursing. The introductory courses for Nursing are a prerequisite for the latter, more advanced course, conducted exclusively by this department.
The medical curriculum is further fortified by live human models as well as simulated basic and clinical case demonstrations at different levels of medical training. Clinical students are further armed with hands-on as well as diagnostic skills of the most common clinical measurements that they are like to encounter in practice. Academic staff of the department and of the Clinical Physiology department participate regularly in teaching clinical students during the Integrated Lecture Series.
Cardiovascular research is the high point of the departmental research expertise and activity. It spans from membrane and vascular physiology to genetics and clinical research. Two strategic projects on the genetics and epidemiology of hypertension, metabolic syndrome and lifestyle interventions are underway. Both projects are receivers of SQU HM research Trust Fund as well as NIH grants
A list of major projects which reflect the research activities and interests of the academic staff is given below along with the names of the Principal Investigators (PI)