Pathology Simulation Workshop Series Enhances Medical Student Understanding of Pathology and Pathologist Roles.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology Training
• Clinical Skills Development

Background:

• Pathology is crucial for medical licensing exams, yet curricula offer limited clinical exposure.
• This lack of exposure contributes to low residency placement rates for pathology.
• Medical students often lack understanding of the pathologist's role in patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reinforce high-yield pathology concepts for examinations.
• To increase student confidence in pathology as a career choice.
• To provide immersive learning experiences simulating pathologist roles.

Main Methods:

• Six workshops simulated pathologist roles using patient case scenarios and mock procedures.
• Interactive activities focused on material relevant to the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1.
• Learning outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-workshop Likert-scale surveys and multiple-choice quizzes.

Main Results:

• Participant understanding of pathologist roles significantly improved.
• Post-workshop quiz scores increased for 90% of questions, with 40% showing significant improvement.
• Over 90% of participants found the workshops enjoyable, effective for studying, and valuable for understanding the pathologist's contribution to patient care.

Conclusions:

• The Pathology Simulation Workshop Series effectively reinforced pathology concepts and demonstrated the diverse roles of pathologists.
• The student-led initiative can be implemented in medical schools to supplement existing curricula.
• These workshops offer a scalable model for enhancing pathology education and addressing career awareness.