Question

Importance of microscropes in this pandemic​

Answer 1

Neuropathology fellow Josh Klonoski estimates that 30 percent of his learning happens at the microscope with an attending pathologist. He and his peers are reaching out to first- and second-year residents who have less experience and need camaraderie.

In mid-March, when hospitals began postponing elective surgeries, physical distancing became the protocol, and people began working remotely, directors of pathology training programs around the country scrambled to adapt so that residents and fellows could still receive the hands-on, collaborative instruction around a microscope they needed.

“We immediately started working out virtual ways of doing things,” said Kristi Smock, MD, who supervises the U of U Health Pathology Residency Program in the University of Utah Department of Pathology, for which ARUP Laboratories is one of the primary rotation sites.

The morning didactic conferences, during which all 20 ARUP trainees would typically be in a room together, discussing slides and cases or listening to a lecture, were transitioned to a virtual platform. Learning opportunities for the 14 anatomic and clinical pathology fellows that the institution sponsors have also been affected.

Answer 2

By looking through a microscope at tissues, we can learn if a disease is related to inflammation or if it's cancerous and, if it is cancer, if it is slow growing or highly aggressive,” explained Moncur.