Anatomic Pathology Conferences     (Updated 2011)

Weekly Microscopic Case Conference (Mondays - 8:00 AM)

This conference is a discussion of miscellaneous "unknown" cases. The major purpose will be to generate a discussion of diagnostic criteria and salient histological features for a group of cases. Slides will be routinely available a few days in advance, and residents are expected to have previewed the slides and thought about diagnostic approaches prior to the conference.

Residents on each of the specialty rotations should submit slides from interesting cases to the senior resident on the "Hot-Seat" rotation. Approximately six cases, typically including one cytology case, will be discussed each week. Residents are expected to be able to describe the pathology present on the slide, develop an appropriate differential diagnosis, know how to distinguish between the entities in the differential diagnosis, describe the pathologic features of the entity, and discuss the natural history, clinical significance, andn current treatments for the entity.

Pathology Didactic Conferences (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, some Thursdays - 8:00 AM)

These conferences are generally formatted as lectures or unknown slides conferences with a specific theme, and are presented by the Clinical Faculty or invited guest speakers. Topics vary from basic diagnostic pathology, specialty areas and disease classifications, stress management, laboratory management, and special techniques. The chief resident schedules the speakers for these conferences.

Gross Conference (Many Thursdays - 8:00 AM)

This time is available for gross conferences on either surgical or autopsy cases, which are run by an attending. The senior resident on autopsy is responsible for organizing the conference with the help of the frozen section resident. It is based on generating a differential diagnosis for a disease process from the examination of gross specimens. Techniques for the appropriate handling of specimens in the gross room are also discussed.

Grand Rounds Speaker Conference (Some Thursdays - 8:00 AM)

When an outside speaker has been invited to give Departmental Grand Rounds, that speaker may give a special conference for the residents. During these weeks, this conference will replace the weekly Gross Conference. These conferences represent a rare opportunity to interact closely with a distinguished diagnostic pathologist and benefit from their years of experience.

Neuropathology Teaching Conference (One Wednesday a month - 12:00 PM)     (New 2011)

This is a joint conference with residents from Neurology and Neurosurgery, covering basic topics in the pathology of neurological disease and including clinical-pathological correlations. It is given by the Neuropathology faculty, but delivered outside of the normal 8AM time slot to accommodate residents in other departments who also benefit from this conference.

Autopsy Case Presentation Conference (Approx. one Wednesday a month - 12:00 PM)     (New 2011)

At this hour-long conference, three residents will each present one of their autopsy cases. The purpose of this conference is for residents to gain experience preparing and presenting a complete case, interpreting the pathologic findings in that case, and assembling those interpretations into an explanation of the sequence of events leading up to the patient's death. Throughout your career, you will be required to present cases at various clinical conferences. You must be able to do this quickly and convincingly. Each presentation should be no more than 20 minutes, including time for questions and answers. See the Autopsy Service Manual for more details.

Molecular Pathology Journal Club (Approx. one Wednesday a month - 12:00 PM)     (New 2011)

Through the presentation and discussion of recent papers using molecular techniques, residents see and critically evaluate the use and application of molecular pathology in the evaluation of patient material. Each paper presented in the Journal Club focuses on particular techniques and how the results of those tests can be used in clinical medicine. Typically, a recent paper will be selected by the faculty in charge of the Journal Club. The Molecular Genetics Fellow will present an explanation of the techniques used in that paper. Then, a resident will present the data and discuss the conclusions of the authors with respect to the applicability of that testing to clinical medicine.

Department Grand Rounds (Thursdays - 12:30 PM)

Departmental Grand Rounds are given by a member of the Pathology faculty or by an invited guest speaker either from another department at Yale or from an outside institution. The content and format will vary depending on the speaker, and topics will range from recent research results to discussion of a clinical case. Grand Rounds typically run from September through June. Grand Rounds has been approved for by Yale's Council on Continuing Medical Education for Continuing Medical Education Credit for the faculty and those fellows who need such credit.

Resident Presentation Conferences (most Fridays - 8:30 AM)

This is a resident-driven and -delivered conference on a topic of the resident's choice. The conference format is variable: it may be a one-hour didactic session, or may take the form of a journal club or case series review. Residents may also use this forum to present the results of their own research projects. The presentation should be formal and should demonstrate an in-depth review of the literature, encompassing historical, clinical, and basic science aspects of an anatomic pathology-related topic. Faculty attend this conference and will ask questions of the presenter and evaluate their performance. A major goal of this conference, in addition to its educational component, is to teach the resident how to format and present a formal conference. Each AP resident will give at least one of these conferences each year.

Forensic Pathology Conference (Approximately one evening each month - 5:30 PM)

Dr. James Gill, Medical Examiner from the Bronx in New York and a former Yale Pathology resident, gives this didactic conference. This conference affords the residents a broad exposure to findings in non-natural deaths and to the medical-legal investigation of death.

Combined Anatomic Pathology / Clinical Pathology Conferences

AP/CP Case Conference (Approximately one Friday each month - 9:00 AM)

This conference is given jointly by an AP resident and a CP resident. It is based on a case presentation and discussion of a disease process in which both anatomic and clinical pathology findings played a role in the workup of the patient.

Joint Didactic Conferences (Varying Days - 8:15 AM)

These conferences relate to aspects of pathology training that interface between anatomic and clinical pathology, and include areas such as informatics, molecular pathology, and laboratory administration.

Clinical Pathology Conferences

Orientation Lectures

During their first week of CP training, all new residents receive a series of intensive "survival" lectures to familiarize them with the scope, organization, and operations of the various laboratories, and to prepare them for their rotations.

Brief Reports (Mondays - 9:00 AM)     (Updated 2011)

This conference is a presentation and discussion of challenging consults encountered by residents on various rotations during the previous week. Three residents are asked to briefly present a consult, followed by a discussion of the clinical reasoning, evidence in support of the decision, and any anticipated follow-up. Attending physicians are invited to participate in the discussions and present consults as well.

Didactic Conference (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - 8:30 AM)

Presented by the laboratory medicine and associated faculty, this conference provides the major instruction to prepare residents for their Pathology Board examinations.

Hematology Rounds (Monthly - 8:30 AM)     (Updated 2011)

Residents completing their Hematology/Flow Cytometry rotation are asked to compile their most interesting cases during the preceding month and present them to the residents, hematopathology fellows, and attendings. Heme/Onc fellows are also invited to attend and participate in the discussion.

Clinical Case Conference (Fridays - 8:30 AM)

This is a formal presentation by the residents of a case chosen to highlight the use of laboratory data in patient diagnosis and management. This conference is presented by the residents with assistance by the faculty and is often attended by clinicians involved in the patient's care. Case Conferences are occasionally posted on the department website if they have extra teaching value.

Research Seminar (Approximately every other week)

State-of-the-art topics and research-in-progress are presented by more senior departmental faculty, other faculty in the School of Medicine or Yale University, and invited speakers from other institutions. Senior laboratory medicine residents may also present the results of their clinical or research investigations at Research Seminar.

Journal Club (Monthly)

Residents present "hot" papers on a topic of their choosing and critically evaluate / analyze the data and approach.

Specialty Intradepartmental and Interdepartmental Conferences

In addition to the general morning conferences, a number of specialty conferences are associated with specific rotations. Residents on these rotations are expected to attend those specialty conferences. Many are interdepartmental, and represent opportunities to participate directly in clinical consultative activities. These include:

Bridgeport conferences

VA conferences

Current Year Conference Schedules

The conference schedules are dynamic and subject to change throughout the year. Yahoo calendar is used to keep the residents and faculty up-to-date about the current conference schedule. This information is available via the web.

Current AP Conference Schedule

Current CP Conference Schedule