Advanced Pathology With Clinical Correlations

1. Gerardo Guiter, MD

1. Pathology

1. Online

1. Medicine Clerkship

Elective Goal
The overarching goal of this elective is that WCM-Q students, by focusing on the study of the
pathology of various diseases, acquire an advanced general understanding of these diseases
and their clinical manifestations and correlations.

Elective Objectives
By the end of this elective, WCM-Q students will:

1. Demonstrate a solid knowledge of different pathological entities, including challenging
   non-neoplastic and malignant lesions.
2. Recognize the critical importance of clinico-pathological correlations in the care of patients
   with a pathological diagnosis.
3. Understand the rationale for using targeted therapies in patients with malignant tumors.
4. Explain the rationale for preventive approaches in non-neoplastic and malignant diseases.
5. Describe the advantages of virtual microscopy and telemedicine in the practice of
   pathology and laboratory medicine.

Elective Duration:
The course duration of this elective is four full weeks.

Elective Learning Modalities:

• Case-Based Learning & Study
  Using virtual microscopy slides, students will examine pathological cases through the four
  weeks. These cases are examples of challenging pathological entities, with critical clinicopathological
  correlations and fundamental therapeutic implications, including the
  application of targeted therapies and preventive approaches.
  The cases will be more complex than those examined during the foundational sciences
  curriculum, since students have already completed their EPOM and HID courses.
  Students will be provided with internet links for direct access to all virtual slides, provided
  by the University of Leeds. In addition, students will be given complementary readings and
  corresponding up-to-date College of American Pathologists (CAP) cancer protocols for
  each case. Cases will cover diseases of the Breast, Uterine Cervix, Lung, Colon, Blood and
  Kidney (the latter will include participation by Dr Muthukumar from Cornell-New York).
  
  
• Self-Directed Learning (SDL)
  Students will be provided with all cases at least 72 hs in advance, including access to virtual
  online pathology slides, readings, CAP protocols, and any other materials.
  During this time, learners will review all these items on their own. They will be expected
  to create a meaningful differential diagnosis and eventually arrive to their own specific
  interpretation. In addition, students will be provided with basic first-order questions, and
  also USMLE-like questions, specifically related to each case.
  Therefore, this time represents an excellent opportunity for SDL and independent selfdiscovery,
  consistent with what pathologists do in a real-life hospital-based practice,
  always focusing on complex and challenging diagnoses.
  
  
• Virtual Group Discussions
  Following the SDL time, all students and the instructor/s will meet via Zoom, and every
  case will be analyzed. These meetings will allow for questions and answers/feedback, and
  discussions of the USMLE questions that were provided for each case. Ultimately, these
  virtual meetings will work as consensus conferences, similar to what is done in a hospitalbased
  practice, when pathologists meet as a group to share and discuss difficult cases.

Feedback & Evaluation
Students will be evaluated based on their:

1. Preparation for virtual meetings (review of virtual slides, development of differential
   diagnoses, completion of readings, answers to questions, etc).
2. Participation and contributions during virtual meetings.
3. Completion of a 500-words summary review of a case discussed during the elective. This
   review will be graded by Dr Guiter and/or Dr Sapia (Pass or Fail). This review must address
   all significant pathological and related clinical issues for the case. In conjunction with the
   grading, feedback will be provided to each student.

Note: Attendance to every Zoom session is obligatory. Any personal circumstances should be
discussed in advance with Dr Guiter or Dr Sapia.