The Yale Pathology section of Anatomic Pathology offers an elective to medical students in their third or fourth year at Yale School of Medicine that provides a broad experience in general diagnostic techniques.
The Anatomic Pathology elective has two- or four-week rotations and gives students opportunities to participate in all areas of surgical pathology, cytopathology, and autopsy. Residents and students in the elective participate together in a daily didactic conference, and students have opportunities to learn electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and molecular diagnostic techniques. In addition, students have direct responsibilities in the areas of autopsy, cytopathology, and surgical pathology.
Yale Pathology, in conjunction with Yale Laboratory Medicine, also offers a combined four-week Anatomic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine elective. The goals of the anatomic pathology part are to understand the basic principles of diagnostic anatomic pathology and its role in clinical medicine, while the Laboratory Medicine goals are to learn appropriate usage and interpretation of laboratory tests and gain a better understanding of the theoretical, technological, and clinical underpinnings of Laboratory Medicine.
The AP elective made all the difference for Yale Pathology Resident Savanah D. Gisriel, MD, MPH, Chief Resident in the Departments of Pathology & Lab Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital.
“It was career-changing for me because it helped me decide that I wanted to become a pathology resident at Yale – and I did,” Dr. Gisriel said. “It also allowed me to become more familiar with anatomic pathology prior to beginning my residency, making the transition from medical school to pathology residency much smoother.”
She said she chose the AP elective as a fourth-year medical student “because I knew I was pursuing pathology as a career and wanted to gain a better understanding of what it meant to be an academic, subspecialized pathologist.” Dr. Gisriel said the elective allowed her to experience how pathology residents interact with attendings during sign-out, how a grossing room is organized and managed, and what a day in the life of a Yale Pathology resident involved.
Yale Pathology Resident Ernest Hidalgo Cedeno, MD, said he choose the AP elective because of the interest he’s had in pathology since medical school. “It solidified my interest,” he said.
“This elective is appropriate for students considering a career in Laboratory Medicine and/or Pathology, and for all students who will use laboratory and pathology tests in their careers,” said Adebowale Adeniran, MD, Professor of Pathology and Director of the Anatomic Pathology Elective Program.
Dr. Adeniran said the program’s popularity is highlighted by its steady growth from two students in 2013, when he became program director, to 20 in the year before the COVID-19 outbreak. “Like most other programs, we shut down completely during the initial phase of COVID,” Dr. Adeniran said. “When we re-opened partially, we allowed only Yale students with a pathology interest, and then all Yale students. We are fully re-opening the elective and we anticipate getting back to 20 students per year over this academic year. Currently, three graduates from the AP elective program are in our residency training program.”
Dr. Adeniran said the elective program has increased diversity in the department and attracted students interested in pathology and other specialties, including surgery and Ob/Gyn. The program has specific learning objectives and accepts visiting students. For more information on the medical student electives, please contact Dr. Adeniran.
Dr. Gisriel said she would “100 percent recommend” the elective to a medical student planning on pursuing pathology residency or a medical student who simply wants to learn more about pathology to better serve patients in another specialty.
“There is nothing more immersive than participating in an in-person elective,” she said. “The attendings here are fantastic and will sit with you at the microscope, one-on-one, to introduce you to the fascinating world of anatomic pathology."
Dr. Hidalgo Cedeno agreed.
“I would definitely encourage others to pursue this elective,” he said. “A solid reason is simply to learn some pathology and possibly lock it in as the residency of choice, but also to have a better understanding of how extremely diverse and wide the pathology field is. I do not regret it in the slightest.”