Skills Lab

Director Skill Lab
Syed Fawad Mashhadi

Director Skills Lab

Message from Director Skills Lab

The Skills Lab is more than a training facility it stands at the heart of modern medical education, where rigorous learning meets real-world relevance. In an era of rapidly advancing medical science, our mission is to ensure that you, our future doctors, are not only well-informed but also expertly trained. This is where theory transforms into practice. The foundational principles of anatomy and physiology come alive in your hands, as you move beyond textbooks into the realm of applied medicine. Within this safe and structured environment, you will bridge the critical gap between knowledge and clinical application. Here, you will learn and refine essential clinical procedures from basic suturing and IV cannulation to advanced life support techniques using state-of-the-art simulators and anatomical models. It is a space that encourages trial, embraces error, and promotes mastery through repetition, all without the immediate pressure of patient care. This deliberate practice builds the confidence and competence necessary to face real-life medical situations with assurance and professionalism. As future physicians, your readiness to serve begins here. The precision, discipline, and clinical acumen you develop in this lab will form the bedrock of your medical journey whether in a hospital ward or on the front lines. Approach this opportunity with focus, dedication, and an unrelenting drive to learn. This lab is your workshop, your training arena, and your foundation for a lifetime of skilled and compassionate service to our nation.

Syed Fawad Mashhadi

Director Skill Lab

Introduction

The Skills Lab at AMC Rawalpindi was established in 2012 as part of the Community Medicine Department. With advancements in medical technology and learning techniques, the need for a dedicated skills lab became evident. In December 2022, a state-of-the-art Skills Lab was inaugurated, initially featuring a single hall with advanced manikins, accommodating workshops for 36 students.

In November 2024, the lab expanded with an additional hall, increasing capacity to 72 students. A key milestone came in September 2024 when the lab was accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) to conduct Basic Life Support (BLS) courses & Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

The lab also includes a fully equipped Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) room. Serving as a hands-on, simulation-based learning environment, it provides students with practical skills in a controlled, low-risk setting. Research shows that students trained in the Skills Lab exhibit improved exam outcomes. The lab allows students to practice core procedures like IV insertion, suturing, and resuscitation techniques, boosting confidence and exam readiness for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

Equipped with a range of advanced trainers, including ACLS, BLS, airway management, and other specialty trainers, the Skills Lab enhances students' clinical competence in various medical scenarios.

Outline of the Course

Objective:
To equip medical students with essential clinical and procedural competencies, enhance patient interaction skills, and prepare them for real-world medical practice through simulation-based and interactive learning.

Course Modules & Topics
  1. Basic Clinical Skills
    • Hand hygiene and infection control
    • Measuring vital signs (BP, pulse, respiration, temperature)
    • Patient positioning and comfort
    • Aseptic technique
    • Basic history taking and physical examination
  2. History Taking & Communication
    • Effective communication with patients and families
    • Taking a comprehensive medical history
    • Presenting patient cases clearly and concisely
    • Cultural sensitivity and empathy in clinical interaction
    • Delivering bad news (e.g., SPIKES protocol)
  3. Physical Examination Skills
    • General physical examination
    • System-based examination:
      • Cardiovascular
      • Respiratory
      • Gastrointestinal
      • Neurological
      • ENT and Ophthalmologic exams
    • Use of stethoscopes, otoscopes, and reflex hammers
  4. Procedural Skills
    • Intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and intravenous (IV) injections
    • IV cannulation and fluid management
    • Urinary catheterization (male and female)
    • Nasogastric tube insertion
    • Basic suturing techniques and wound care
    • CPR and use of defibrillator (AED)
  5. Emergency & Resuscitation Skills
    • Basic Life Support (BLS)
    • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
    • Airway management (bag-valve-mask, oropharyngeal airways)
    • Recognition of shock and initial management
    • Trauma assessment (ABCDE approach)
  6. Diagnostic & Monitoring Skills
    • Blood glucose monitoring
    • ECG recording and basic interpretation
    • Pulse oximetry and oxygen therapy
  7. Surgical Skills (Introductory Level)
    • Surgical hand scrubbing, gowning, and gloving
    • Instrument identification and handling
    • Knot tying techniques
  8. Professionalism & Ethics
    • Confidentiality and informed consent
    • Ethical decision-making in clinical scenarios
    • Doctor-patient relationship and professionalism
    • Reflective practice and feedback processing
  9. Clinical Reasoning & Decision-Making
    • Formulating differential diagnoses
    • Case-based learning with simulated patients
    • Clinical judgment in ambiguous situations
    • Integration of lab results into clinical context
  10. Simulation-Based Learning
    • Simulated patient encounters (Standardized Patients - SPs)
    • High-fidelity mannequins for emergencies
    • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) practice
    • Interprofessional team training simulations (e.g., code blue)
Assessment Methods
  • Direct observation through checklists
  • OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations)
  • Peer and instructor feedback
  • Skills return demonstrations
Optional Certifications
  • BLS & ACLS certification
  • First Aid
  • Infection control certification
  • CPR and AED use

Our Faculty

1

Director Skills Lab

1

Deputy Director Skills Lab

Meet Our Faculty

Prof. Shabnam Hamid

Dr. Syed Fawad Mashhadi

MBBS, MPH, MCPS, MPhil, CHPE, Ph.D(Public Health)

Director Skills Lab

Muhammad Farhan Butt

Dr. Muhammad Farhan Butt

MBBS

Deputy Director Skills Lab