The Relationship Between Medical School–Based Pathology Departments and Affiliated Forensic Pathology Training Sites. (27th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bailey, David N.
• Is Part Of: Academic pathology. Volume 8(2021:Jan./Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2021-08-27
• Subjects: forensic pathology -- pathology department -- medical students -- relationship -- residents; Pathology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- North America -- Periodicals; Pathology; Periodicals; 616.0707117
• DOI: 10.1177/23742895211040208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2374-2895

Abstract

Medical school–based pathology departments were surveyed in order to evaluate their relationship with sites providing forensic pathology training. Of 59 departments surveyed, 49 (83%) responded. Most (88%) respondents indicated that training occurs at an affiliated medical examiner/coroner office, and 78% indicated that the facility is 10 miles or less from the academic health center. The majority (61%) of respondents require 4 weeks of forensic pathology training for their residents while the others require none (3); 6, 8, or 12 weeks (2 each); and 16 weeks (3, with two having integrated forensic and medical autopsies). The majority (81%) send one resident at a time to the forensic pathology training site, and almost always (92%) the experience is dedicated to forensic pathology without mixing with other training. Two-thirds of respondents send between 1 and 5 residents per year for training. Prior autopsy experience is required by 79% of departments. Medical student rotations in forensic pathology are available to 86% of reporting departments. Almost 3 quarters of respondents indicated that a forensic pathology fellowship is available through the training site with 83% being funded by the training site. About half of departments indicated that they provide some financial support to the site. Of reporting departments, 71% indicated that they give faculty appointments to forensic pathologists at the training site, with 3 quarters being voluntary appointments. Affiliated forensic pathology training sites are a valuable asset although 6 respondents report offering such training either totally or partially within the pathology department itself.