Libre Pathology talk:Study Group
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Michael's thoughts on the exam
Written
- I though it was picking at details. Some things are very relevant to practise... other less so.
- The pocketbook version of Robbins covers most of it.
Practical (slide) exam
- You should know the answer almost immediately.
- If you don't know, write something down and move on.
- It is set to broadly cover everything.
- If it isn't a spot diagnosis... it should not be on.
- Somethings are PGY2/PGY3 stuff. One should not overthink things.
- Anecdotally, the first impression is usually the right one.
- I think one should stick with the first impression.
Gross exam
- Go with the most probable if you're uncertain.
- I worked through the Atlas of Gross Pathology with Histologic Correlation (see Pathology books for the references).
- I am not sure this is necessary... but I thought it was useful.
- Flickr.com/Google images has a lot to offer in this respect.
- Gross spot diagnosis.
Forensic exam
- I thought this was tricky... and I liked forensics.
- Residents that took the exam prior to me said the same.
Cytology exam
- Some of the cases have several images.
- I remember being confused... the first three images were from one case. I remember thinking... I have the same diagnosis three times.
- Like the forensics and gross sections - this section isn't too long. From an exam strategy point-of-view, this makes it less likely that a diagnosis is repeated.
Oral exam
- I think this is to test if you are safe and useful.
- By "safe" I mean: knowing your limits and consulting with a colleague when appropriate.
- By "useful" I mean: you don't need to consult on everything.
- The examiners ask a pre-determined list of questions.
- Questions may depend on one another and, in fairness, they are told to redirect you.
- Example: You see a lung biopsy with hyaline material... and you go down the fibrosis route-- but it is really amyloidosis.
- The examiners will say something like "how would one work-up suspected amyloid?" or "lets assume this is amyloid..."
- Example: You see a lung biopsy with hyaline material... and you go down the fibrosis route-- but it is really amyloidosis.
- Questions may depend on one another and, in fairness, they are told to redirect you.
- If you're a Canadian resident, you cannot be examined by someone within your residency program.
- As far as I know, examiners are told to be stone-faced, i.e. show no emotion.
- Some of the cases were very straight forward.
- I didn't think anything was really exotic.