Main Hospital Surgical Pathology Rotation

During the resident's time on surgical pathology at the Main Hospital, they will examine, dissect and submit tissue blocks from surgical specimens, microscopically examine slides produced from those tissue blocks, and finally review slides with an attending surgical pathologist at the time of sign-out. Residents are also expected to actively participate in intra-operative consultations including examination of fresh tissues, selection of samples for frozen section and/or other studies, sectioning of frozen section blocks, and examination of frozen section slides. 

The Main Hospital surgical pathology rotation is on a three day cycle and three residents are on the rotation in any one month. The resident's responsibility each day is as follows: 

  • Day 1: (Grossing) - The resident is expected to gross all of the large specimens (excluding breast, GI, liver, and lung/thorax cases). A Pathology Assistant handles biopsy specimens. 
  • Day 2: (AM Frozen Section / PM Read-out) - The resident is to cut and signout all frozen sections that come to the lab until 1:00 PM. When slides become available (usually by 1:00 PM), the resident is expected to examine all specimens grossed in and dictate a preliminary diagnosis for each case.
  • Day 3: (AM Sign-out / PM Frozen Section) - The resident is to sign out both the biopsy and large cases with the attending pathologist after morning conference. At 1:00 PM, the resident is to cut and signout all frozen sections that come to the lab until 5:00 PM.