General Pathology

Tariq Aziz, MD, FRCPC General Pathology Program Director St. Joseph's Hospital Pathology, L222-6 50 Charlton Ave E Hamilton, ON L8N 4A5 We are currently closed to independent, foreign applicants.

 

Program Overview

The General Pathology training program encompasses four areas of Laboratory Medicine including anatomic pathology, medical biochemistry, medical microbiology and laboratory hematology. Residents are trained as consultants for both laboratory services and clinical professionals. This team-oriented approach provides residents with a superior method of dealing with patients and health care professionals alike.

Throughout the regionalized laboratory system maintained by the city of Hamilton and surrounding areas, residents are able to gain access and study various subspecialties.

Curriculum

The first year (PGY1) is a basic clinical year. The resident is exposed to a broad spectrum of clinical experience including rotations in general medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and neonatology and obs/gyn. Elective pathology is highly recommended.

The PGY2 year of training is spent in anatomical pathology, rotating through different hospitals so that:

1. Residents may have an understanding for all areas of anatomical pathology. They may be trained to become moderately competent with routine performance of autopsy and surgical pathology, including writing of reports.

2. They will have an idea about what subspecialty they may choose for an elective during their senior years.

The PGY3 year is split into three, two month blocks to be spent in each of the clinical pathology areas and one, six month block in anatomical pathology. Residents will be rotating through different hospitals to obtain maximum benefit from the regionalized laboratory system. The training during this period is intended to familiarize them with the many laboratory procedures. Residents study and try to understand the theoretical background of the laboratory procedures and consolidate their knowledge in the pathophysiology of disease. A lot of the teaching is provided by technical staff at this point.

From the PGY4 year on, although the residents are expected to refine their basic techniques and knowledge, the main thrust is in training them to be a consultant. Emphasis is in discussion with clinicians, teaching of junior residents/students, trouble-shooting with technologists, attendance of relevant hospital committees and presentation of rounds. They will have a further four month block in each of the clinical pathology areas. The training in diagnostic cytology, forensic pathology, and a short rotation through a community hospital are mandatory.

Throughout the four year period, residents are kept in touch constantly with all four laboratory subspecialties during the compulsory Academic Half Day. In addition to session in anatomical pathology and clinical pathology, core topics such as immunology, cytogenetics, critical appraisal, laboratory management, laboratory safety, quality assurance, biomedical ethics are presented and discussed. All topics are planned in more or less a two-year cycle, although the actual speakers or presentations may be different. Other more general topics such as CMPA issues, interpersonal relationships and stress management are covered in the multidisciplinary Academic Half Days.

Educational Activities

1. Pathology academic half day every week.

2. Multidisciplinary half days every three months.

Residents usually attend these educational events (e.g. respiratory path rounds, gyne path rounds, nephrology rounds) when they take place in the hospital of the residents' current rotation. Of all these meetings, the regional cytology meetings are highly recommended.

Residents may also be encouraged to attend the continuing education seminars depending on the topic.

Evaluation

Residents are evaluated midway through and at the completion of each rotation. Resident progress is monitored and residents meet at least twice per year with the program director for formal progress discussion. Informal discussion with the program director throughout the rotation is also encouraged. In addition, each resident will be assigned a mentor to assist them during their training period.

An in-house practical pathology examination is held annually for all residents. Residents also have the opportunity to write the American Society for Clinical Pathology Resident Exam during the year.