Current state of Grand Rounds in U.S. pathology training programs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Pathology Grand Rounds (PGR) are common in academic pathology departments, but their objectives, topics, and presenter demographics are not well-understood.
• Understanding the current landscape of PGR is crucial for optimizing their educational value and addressing potential disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current state of Pathology Grand Rounds (PGR) in the United States.
• To analyze the frequency, scheduling, topics, and presenter demographics (gender, academic rank) of PGR.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed all US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited pathology residency programs for PGR information.
• Extracted data on PGR existence, frequency, timing, topics, and presenter details (gender, degree, rank) from a representative sample of institutions.

Main Results:

• 50% of ACGME-accredited programs host PGR, more common in larger programs.
• Presenters were predominantly faculty (76.7%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.93, increasing with academic rank.
• Topics covered included anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, research, and other medical specialties.

Conclusions:

• Pathology Grand Rounds appear to primarily target trainees.
• A notable gender disparity exists among PGR presenters, which is exacerbated at higher academic faculty levels.