Northwest Campus

Anatomic & Clinical Pathology

Mercy Hospital, Williston

PATH 9403

Participating Faculty:
Joseph B. Andelin, M.D.
Franklin E. McCoy, M.D.
(Student may select preceptor)

Offered: All periods
Positions: One per period

Objectives of the Elective:

  1. To acquaint the student with the general role of a pathologist in the modern practice of medicine.
  2. Participate in autopsy examinations, to reinforce anatomy changes in disease states, and clinical pathologic correlation.
  3. Handling of routine surgical specimens, and becoming acquainted with the importance of adequate clinical information and chart review if necessary, as well as the need for special stains, immunoperoxidase stains, and plastic thin sections where needed.
  4. Develop a working concept of an approach to working up hematologic abnormalities, particularly anemias and to become aware of significance of these morphologic conditions. Instruction and performance of bone marrow examinations.
  5. Introduction to the various departments in clinical pathology, the tests that are performed in those departments, and to develop a concept of expedient use of the laboratory, as well as the problems involved in obtaining the most reliable results.

Instructional Activities:

  1. Generally assist the pathologist in all his daily activities from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This will include daily work, committee meetings and conferences.
  2. General reading in pathology as well as current literature search in the various journals, relating to particular, unusual or complicated problems.
  3. Give a half-hour presentation on a subject, case or cases at the biweekly pathology conference.
  4. Clinical chart review of unusual or interesting cases in surgical pathology or clinical pathology.

Standards of performance indicating attainment of objectives, including how this will be documented.

  1. The student will be evaluated on general attitude, interest, and improvement during the period.
  2. An unknown examination of the more common, basic pathologic processes in surgical specimens, as well as peripheral blood smears may be given.
  3. A written evaluation will be presented to the student and to the assistant dean for the northwest campus at the end of the rotation.

Criteria for Grading:

  1. Data gathering.
  2. Interaction.
  3. Problem solving.
  4. Patient management.
  5. Psychosocial.
  6. Procedural skills.
  7. Clinical competence.