Hematology Course

Lesson 1 • Bone Marrow Architecture and Assessment

Describes marrow cellularity, stromal elements, and biopsy interpretation basics. Prepares students to evaluate marrow findings in disease contexts.

Lesson 2 • Myeloid and Lymphoid Lineages

Traces differentiation from common progenitors to mature myeloid and lymphoid cells. Establishes lineage identity critical for classifying hematologic disorders.

Lesson 3 • Cytokines and Growth Factor Regulation

Examines erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins. Connects growth factor signaling to therapeutic applications in cytopenias.

Lesson 4 • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology

Defines hematopoietic stem cells, self-renewal, and multipotency. Links stem cell properties to clinical conditions involving marrow failure.

Lesson 1 • Red Cell Structure and Hemoglobin

Covers biconcave disc morphology, membrane proteins, and hemoglobin oxygen-binding kinetics. Grounds understanding of hemolytic and structural red cell disorders.

Lesson 2 • Hemoglobinopathies

Examines sickle cell disease and thalassemia syndromes at molecular, clinical, and management levels. Builds on hemoglobin structure knowledge from earlier sections.

Lesson 3 • Anemia Classification Framework

Applies MCV-based and reticulocyte-based classification to organize anemia diagnosis. Enables systematic differential diagnosis before specific etiology testing.

Lesson 4 • Hemolytic Anemias

Distinguishes intrinsic from extrinsic hemolytic mechanisms and their laboratory signatures. Covers hereditary spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency, and autoimmune hemolysis.

Lesson 1 • Monocytes, Macrophages, and Dendritic Cells

Describes monocyte-macrophage differentiation, tissue distribution, and antigen presentation. Links mononuclear phagocyte system to inflammatory and storage disorders.

Lesson 2 • Eosinophils, Basophils, and Mast Cells

Examines granulocyte subtypes involved in allergy, parasitic defense, and inflammation. Connects eosinophilia patterns to reactive and clonal etiologies.

Lesson 3 • Reactive Leukocytosis and Leukopenia

Distinguishes benign reactive leukocyte changes from early neoplastic signals. Covers left shift, toxic granulation, and causes of neutropenia.

Lesson 4 • Neutrophil Biology and Function

Covers neutrophil maturation, granule contents, and antimicrobial mechanisms. Establishes the basis for interpreting neutrophilia, neutropenia, and functional defects.

Lesson 1 • Coagulation Cascade Mechanics

Maps intrinsic, extrinsic, and common coagulation pathways and their regulatory proteins. Connects pathway components to PT, aPTT, and factor assay interpretation.

Lesson 2 • Thrombocytopenia Evaluation

Provides a systematic approach to low platelet counts by mechanism and clinical context. Covers ITP, HIT, TTP, and drug-induced thrombocytopenia.

Lesson 3 • Fibrinolysis and Clot Resolution

Explains plasminogen activation, fibrin degradation, and regulatory inhibitors. Links fibrinolytic balance to DIC and thrombolytic therapy.

Lesson 4 • Inherited and Acquired Bleeding Disorders

Covers von Willebrand disease, hemophilias, and acquired coagulopathies including liver disease. Builds on coagulation pathway knowledge to guide factor replacement decisions.

Lesson 1 • Flow Cytometry in Hematology

Explains immunophenotyping principles, panel design, and gating strategies for blood and marrow. Essential for classifying leukemias and lymphomas accurately.

Lesson 2 • Molecular and Cytogenetic Testing

Introduces FISH, karyotyping, PCR, and next-generation sequencing applications in hematology. Connects genetic findings to diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy selection.

Lesson 3 • Peripheral Blood Smear Analysis

Trains recognition of abnormal red cell, white cell, and platelet morphologies on smear. Directly supports diagnosis of hemolytic, infiltrative, and neoplastic conditions.

Lesson 4 • Complete Blood Count Interpretation

Teaches systematic CBC analysis including indices, flags, and reference range application. Anchors laboratory interpretation skills used throughout clinical hematology.

Lesson 1 • Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Examines MDS pathophysiology, IPSS-R scoring, and treatment stratification by risk. Connects dysplastic morphology and cytogenetics to prognosis and transplant timing.

Lesson 2 • Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Covers polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis with JAK2 biology. Addresses thrombotic risk management and disease progression monitoring.

Lesson 3 • Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Details BCR-ABL1 biology, TKI therapy generations, and response milestone monitoring. Demonstrates how molecular diagnostics drive treatment decisions in CML.

Lesson 4 • Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Covers AML classification, cytogenetic risk stratification, and induction chemotherapy principles. Builds on flow cytometry and molecular testing skills from prior chapters.

Lesson 1 • T Cell and NK Cell Lymphomas

Reviews peripheral T cell lymphoma subtypes, ALCL, and extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. Highlights diagnostic challenges and limited treatment options relative to B cell disease.

Lesson 2 • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Covers CLL biology, Rai and Binet staging, prognostic markers, and BTK inhibitor therapy. Connects IGHV mutation status and del(17p) to treatment selection.

Lesson 3 • Plasma Cell Disorders

Examines MGUS, smoldering myeloma, and multiple myeloma diagnosis and risk stratification. Covers proteasome inhibitor, IMiD, and anti-CD38 antibody-based regimens.

Lesson 4 • Hodgkin Lymphoma

Covers Reed-Sternberg cell biology, Ann Arbor staging, and ABVD-based treatment. Addresses response assessment by PET-adapted therapy principles.

Lesson 1 • Conditioning Regimens

Covers myeloablative, reduced-intensity, and non-myeloablative conditioning and their toxicity profiles. Connects regimen intensity to patient fitness and disease relapse risk.

Lesson 2 • Engraftment and Early Complications

Monitors neutrophil and platelet engraftment kinetics and early post-transplant complications. Covers sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, engraftment syndrome, and graft failure.

Lesson 3 • Transplant Types and Donor Selection

Distinguishes autologous, allogeneic, and haploidentical transplants and their indications. Covers HLA matching principles and donor registry utilization.

Lesson 4 • Infectious Complications and Long-Term Care

Addresses bacterial, fungal, and viral infection risk by immune reconstitution phase. Covers vaccination schedules, late effects, and survivorship monitoring.