A Successful Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology Bootcamp at Juravinski Hospital

The Juravinski Hospital recently hosted a two-week Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology Bootcamp for medical students. The program, designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the field, featured a variety of hands-on experiences and educational sessions. 

Six medical students participated in the bootcamp, beginning with an introduction to the life of a pathology resident from the chief resident. A highlight of the program was the opportunity for students to shadow a pathologist one-on-one for a day, a valuable experience based on feedback from previous years. 

The bootcamp also included daily participation in Gross Pathology rounds conducted by Pathologist Assistants and attendance at intraoperative consultations, practice review rounds in Gyn Pathology, Breast core/radiology rounds at BAC, and MCC Gyn Oncology rounds. 

Medical students engaged in one-on-one teaching sessions with pathologists in the multiheader teaching room to enhance their understanding of pathology. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, including normal histology, and interpretation of pathologic diagnoses in various areas such as Gyn, Uro, Dermatopathology, Breast, cytology, Hematopathology, Cardiovascular, and GI pathology. Additionally, students were introduced to digital pathology. 

A session on pattern recognition, led by our Gyn Pathology fellow, was particularly well-received. The medical students also participated in hot seat unknown rounds with residents, gaining valuable insights into how diagnoses and molecular biomarkers influence prognosis and treatment. 

To simulate the daily experience of a pathologist, students spent time in the resident room, examining slides under a microscope and assessing patient cases. 

The feedback from the medical students was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the nuances and importance of precision diagnostics in patient care. 

Dr. Monalisa Sur, the coordinator of the bootcamp, expressed her gratitude to the teaching faculty and Pathology Assistants for their dedication and involvement in making the program a success, despite the time constraints and heavy clinical workload at the Juravinski Hospital Pathology site.