Conferences

Mandatory Sessions, University Hospital:

Anatomic Pathology QA Conference:
In this weekly conference, faculty members bring interesting teaching cases they have acquired over the course of a week or two. The conference lasts about an hour, and the residents are asked about the diagnostic approach to the cases. The cases are diverse and representative of the many areas we see at this institution.

Frozen Section Teaching Conference:
This conference occurs weekly in rotation with the cytopathology and hematopathology teaching conferences. In this conference, residents are challenged with unknown frozen section slides in an attempt to sharpen skills necessary to read these slides, which differ in many ways from the permanent sections. Correlation with permanent sections is performed to give the residents an idea of the nuances of reading intraoperative consultation slides.

Cytopathology Teaching Conference:
This conference occurs weekly in rotation with the frozen section and hematopathology teaching conferences. In this conference, residents are challenged with unknown cytology slides which are a mix of pap smears and nongynecologic cytology cases (including body fluids, brushings, and fine needle aspirations). This conference tests the residents’ ability to accurately assess specimen adequacy as well as diagnostic skills. Surgical pathology cases are correlated with cytology cases when available.

Hematopathology Teaching Conference:
This conference occurs weekly in rotation with the frozen section and cytopathology teaching conferences. In this conference, residents are challenged with hematopathology cases from every aspect, including flow cytology, aspirate specimens, and histology slides. This allows each resident to explore a case from every angle in order to come to a correct diagnosis.

Anatomic Pathology Board Review:
This weekly conference is structured to aid the residents in understanding not only educational material, but also learning how to approach questions in a multiple choice format, as multiple choice questions are used on the American Board of Pathology certification examinations. The board review covers all areas of anatomic pathology. All residents attend this conference regardless of where they are rotating.

Lecture Series:
This weekly conference is didactic based. Presentations cover all facets predominately of anatomic pathology. All areas of anatomic pathology are covered over the course of the academic year. Lectures are given by Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Faculty as well as attendings from the affiliate training sites. The goal is to give each resident a wide exposure to numerous areas of anatomic pathology over the course of a resident’s four years of training. All residents attend this conference regardless of where they are rotating.

Resident Didactic Conference:
This conference takes place on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays of the month. Each resident assigned to the anatomic pathology rotation at University Hospital is expected to give a didactic presentation usually related to a case they have participated in at UH or one of our affiliate sites. The conference usually lasts about one hour, and prior presentations have shown tremendous examples of the educational opportunities within our program.

Autopsy Conference:
This conference is held on the third Thursday of each month. One or two residents present the findings of an autopsy they perform. This is an integrated conference, and the responsible clinician is always invited to present the clinical findings from their perspective. There is also radiologic correlation with the gross and histologic findings which are also presented. This allows residents to see the complete presentation of an autopsy from start the finish. The presentation is also guided by the responsible pathology attending for each case.

Clinical Pathology Conference:
This weekly conference is broken up into three components. The first is a didactic component which is given predominately by the CP faculty; however, once per month the didactic session is given by a resident rotating through the one of the clinical pathology laboratories. The second component is a board review which is structured to aid the residents in understanding not only educational material, but also learning how to approach questions in a multiple choice format, as multiple choice questions are used on the American Board of Pathology certification examinations. The board review covers all areas of clinical pathology. The third component is the case conference portion in which residents discuss interesting cases they encountered over the course of the prior week or two. Input is given from other residents as well as faculty members in attendance. This multifaceted approach to CP education has proven beneficial since its inception several years ago. All residents attend this conference regardless of where they are rotating.

Brain Cutting Conference:
This conference occurs as needed and usually within fourteen days of the performance of an adult or pediatric autopsy. Our neuropathologists discuss neuroanatomy as well as abnormalities they observe while performing an in depth gross examination of the brain.

Journal Club:
This monthly conference is usually led by a resident who selects a faculty mentor in advance of the discussion. All residents are required to read the article in advance of the session and examine a series of questions designed to emphasize the skills necessary to analyze information in the medical literature. Timely, relevant articles are selected in an attempt to educate on topics important to the practice of pathology.

Mandatory Conferences, VANJHCS:

Anatomic Pathology Consensus Conference:
All residents and faculty at the VA attend this daily morning conference. Cases from the previous day are reviewed as a group and consensus is reached on each. In addition, residents are expected to present their histologic findings from any autopsies they perform at this conference. On occasion, residents may be asked to present CAP surgical pathology proficiency slides along with a brief explanation of unusual entities.

Autopsy Gross Organ Conference:
This conference is held one to two days after the performance of an autopsy. The responsible resident presents the gross findings of an autopsy they performed. This is an integrated conference, and the responsible clinician and their team is always invited to present the clinical findings from their perspective. This allows residents to see the presentation of an autopsy and ask pertinent questions of the clinical team. The presentation is also guided by the responsible pathology attending for each case.