Year Two Curriculum

Students will spend 5h/day working under supervision in the autopsy suite for 5 months. The students will be taught by hands-on instruction the duties and responsibilities of the Pathologists’ Assistant, including organ examination techniques, tissue selection for microscopy, and autopsy reporting.

The students will also attend Autopsy Rounds. During these rotations, the students are expected to maintain a log of the cases they handle. The students will be assessed on an ongoing basis by the laboratory supervisor. At the end of these rotations they will be examined in a viva. They will be given a pass/fail grade. 

Each student is expected to actively assist in at least 50 autopsies in the five-month period.

Students will spend at least 5h/day working under supervision in the gross pathology suite for 5 months. Students will be taught by hands-on instruction as to how to perform an analysis, descriptions, and dissections of all surgical specimens. This rotation will be supplemented by pathology rounds or small group discussions, as appropriate, to provide students with a complete understanding of the protocols for specimen examination and dissection.

During these rotations, the students are expected to maintain a log of the cases they handle. The students will be assessed on an ongoing basis by the laboratory supervisor. At the end of these rotations they will be examined in a viva. They will be given a pass/fail grade.

Objective: Gain appropriate knowledge and skill to answer the questions proposed in the identified research project.

The course will allow students to conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Potential projects may involve an extensive literature review, a series of case reports, a small clinical or basic research project, investigation of quality improvement indicators or development of a pathology learning module. Projects will be determined in consultation with a Pathology faculty member. 

Independent study and systematic review and analysis of the medical literature, experimental design and analysis, and effective communication skills will be emphasized. Within the pathology laboratories students will be exposed to a number of techniques that are used in modern pathology research (e.g. immunochemistry, FACS, molecular pathology, image analysis, gross and microscopic examination of tissues). Students will be required to present a one-page initial project description and a final written report and oral presentation. Student will conduct this activity throughout Year 2.

During the research project students will:

• Develop a familiarity with a variety of methodologies in common use in pathology research laboratories.
• Develop skills in the formulation of a hypothesis and the design and execution of a research project.
• Develop the analytical skills required to conduct research in pathology, perform the associated data presentation and analysis, and derive appropriate conclusions.
• Develop skills in critical evaluation of medical and scientific information.
• Develop skills in oral and written communication.

They will be given a Complete/Incomplete.