Informatics Training for Pathology Practice and Research in the Digital Era

Area of Science:

• Pathology Informatics
• Medical Education
• Computer Programming Training

Background:

• Pathology informatics is an emerging field with insufficient structured training for pathologists, particularly in computer programming.
• There is a growing need for specialized informatics skills within pathology practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a comprehensive training program in pathology informatics at the University of Florida.
• To cater to the educational needs of students, faculty, and staff in pathology.

Main Methods:

• Creation of three one-credit courses utilizing a flipped classroom instructional design.
• Assessment of each course using a novel survey instrument.
• Evaluation of the program's impact through post-completion interviews and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Course objectives were generally met, indicating program effectiveness.
• Positive impacts included enhanced collaborative learning and application of real-world problems.
• Improvements were observed in communication with informatics colleagues and overall job task efficiency and effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The developed pathology informatics training program successfully met its objectives.
• Collaborative learning and practical application were key factors in the program's success.
• The program effectively raised awareness of professional development and career pathways in pathology informatics.