Anatomic Pathology - VA

Catalog Description:  The goal of this rotation is to familiarize the medical student with the role of pathology in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients through the activities of pathologist as members of the clinical team. Beyond clinical diagnoses, the student will become acquainted with the role of pathology in understanding mechanisms of disease.
This is an ideal rotation for those students who are considering pathology as a possible specialty and for students who choose a surgical or clinical specialty, but want to understand how pathology will help them treat their patients.
The student will be expected to become familiar with the service activities in the department of pathology; this includes the handling of surgical specimens in the Gross Room (sampling), performance of frozen sections during surgical procedures and interpretation of microscopic slides to establish diagnoses.

The student will attend all intradepartmental conferences and according to interest, interdisciplinary clinic pathologic conferences. If desired, the student may assist in the performance of autopsies under supervision. There is time available for the student to review areas of interest in pathology. 

This elective acquaints students with techniques involved in the handling of surgical specimens and in the performance of autopsies. Clinical-pathologic correlation is stressed.

Syllabus

Sites:  

View site addresses by clicking on the site name below or visiting the site codes table.

Required session attendance: Does not apply

Typical weekly schedule/Delivery Mode:  M-F, 8:00am-5:00pm.  No night or weekend assignments.

Direct patient care:  No

Consent Requirement: Open to student scheduling

Course Objectives:  By the end of this rotation, students will be able to:

• define generalities on autopsy technique
• observe Gross Room procedures
• observe performance and diagnosis of frozen sections
• review gross and microscopic pathology
• recognize clinical-pathologic correlation;
• select an area of special interest, i.e., cytology, etc.
• review pertinent pathology literature
• prepare an interesting case for presentation to faculty, residents and staff (last Friday of the rotation)
• prepare a case-log of cases examined

Graded Components:  

• degree of participation and interest in Surgical Pathology and Autopsies activies
• attendance and participation at conferences and evidence of independent study
• professionalism in interactions with faculty, other members of the clinical team, residents and staff
• end of rotation presentation to faculty, residents and staff
• supervisor's assessment of completeness of case-log on cases examined

Grading Scale:  H/E/S/N

Allow repetition of course: Repetition not allowed

Course equivalency:  Does Not Apply