Pathology Rotations Embedded Within Surgery Clerkships Can Shift Student Perspectives About Pathology

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology
• Surgical Clerkship

Background:

• Medical school curricula increasingly emphasize early clinical exposure and compressed didactic learning.
• This shift raises concerns about effectively integrating pathology education into clinically relevant medical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mandatory 1-week pathology rotation within a surgery clerkship on medical students' knowledge and perspectives.
• To assess the feasibility and effects of this integrated pathology rotation on students, residents, and faculty.

Main Methods:

• A 1-week mandatory pathology rotation was implemented during the surgery clerkship for 192 medical students.
• Student feedback and survey data were collected post-rotation.
• Pathology residents and faculty were surveyed regarding workflow changes and impact on their learning.

Main Results:

• 80% of students felt the rotation improved their understanding of pathology's role in healthcare.
• 62% and 66% of students reported a positive impact on their views of pathology and pathologists, respectively.
• A notable percentage of residents (42-47%) and faculty (82-96%) reported decreased resident learning and workflow efficiency due to student presence.

Conclusions:

• Integrating pathology rotations into surgical clerkships is a practical strategy to maintain pathology education amidst curriculum reforms.
• This model offers students a more integrated and practical understanding of pathology.
• Pathology departments must actively engage in curriculum development to ensure effective preclinical and clinical education.