SO THIS IS HOW IT WORKS IN ACADEMIC PATHOLOGY

The multiheaded scope sits in one of the back rooms. I sit at the head of the scope. On one side is a stack of cardboard trays containing glass slides. The resident sits across from me, paperwork in hand. I pick up the first slide and say "So this is case # -----. Sections A and B. What is the site and how old is the patient?" I place the slide on the stage and push it into place. I focus up and down on the tissue - a shave biopsy showing hyper and parakeratosis and basilar keratinocyte atypia. "Looks like an AK, extending to the margins." The resident writes down the diagnosis on the requistion and we move on to the next case. I pick up the next slide, stop and take a sip of my tea. "This is case # -----".

Comments

[Donavan]

That sounds wonderful!

[MD]

That is the idealized version. Some days, all heck breaks loose and you just try to keep up :)