Resident Manual

The Department of Pathology conferences are attended by both pathology residents and faculty, as well as other physicians. Speakers at conferences include department faculty and residents, as well as distinguished Pathology faculty and scientists from other institutions.
Purpose:

To disseminate knowledge of all aspects of Pathology to all attendees.
To supplement the training residents receive on formal rotations.
To provide an opportunity for residents to gain public speaking and presentation skills.
To expose the attendees to ongoing research and new developments in Pathology. 
There are two categories of weekly conferences:

1. Departmental conferences that are held at USF, VA and MCC; required for all residents. These departments include the Thursday morning block of conferences run primarily by the residents, as well as Topics in Pathology Practice and Department of Pathology Grand Rounds.
2. Hospital-sponsored conferences that take place at the individual hospitals and are attended by residents rotating at those hospitals; attendance requirements established by the hosting hospital. These include gross autopsy conference, unknown conference, etc 

Residents are expected to arrange their daily schedules in order to attend required departmental conferences. The faculty at each of the affiliated institutions is aware of this requirement and will work with residents to allow for attendance. 
The weekly USF conference schedule, including topics, times, and locations are published weekly in the "Updates in Pathology and Cell Biology" flyer distributed to all residents and faculty.

THURSDAY MORNING CONFERENCE SERIES:

Pathology and Cell Biology TEXT REVIEW

Objective: The Pathology Text Review Conference uses core texts in Pathology (Robbins, Henry, McClatchey) and previous year's in-service exam questions to review basic anatomic pathology, introduce basic clinical pathology, and to familiarize residents with board-type questions.

Mechanism: Each of these conferences will begin with the review of a chapter in either of the Pathology texts. A resident will be assigned as the leader of the discussion and will be responsible for coming to the conference prepared to point out important facts in the reading and explaining any details. If he chooses to do so, the conference leader may ask an attending to be at the conference to help in the discussion. The conference will be most successful if all attendees have read the material and are prepared to participate.
Chapters to be discussed will also be coordinated with the case studies topics as time allows.

 
PATHOLOGY CASE STUDIES

Objective:Case studies conference will increase residents' exposure to clinical Pathology topics and topics in anatomic Pathology that are not part of required rotations. These topics include, but are not limited to medical microbiology, blood banking, chemistry, lab management, coagulation, hematology, neuropathology, dermatopathology and renal pathology.

Mechanism:Attendings assigned to present at these conferences may select from a variety of methods including circulation of unknown cases among the residents prior to the conference, unknown cases presented for the first time at conference or lecture format.


FORENSIC PATHOLOGY LECTURE SERIES

Objective:The lectures will expose the residents to the work of medical examiners and increase their knowledge and understanding of forensic pathology.

Mechanism:Each lecture will be presented by one of the forensic pathologists employed at the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department, including Drs. Adams, Chrostowski, Hair, and Lee. The material will be presented using projection of kodachrome slides and/or powerpoint and discussion during the lecture is encouraged. Residents should familiarize themselves with the topic to be discussed prior to the lecture using one of several forensic pathology books.
 
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY LECTURE SERIES

Objectives: The lectures will expose the residents to the work of medical examiners and increase their knowledge and understanding of forensic pathology.

Mechanism: Each lecture will be presented by one of the forensic pathologists employed at the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department, including Drs. Adams, Chrostowski, Hair, and Lee. The material will be presented using projection of kodachrome slides and/or powerpoint and discussion during the lecture is encouraged. Residents should familiarize themselves with the topic to be discussed prior to the lecture using one of several forensic pathology books.

GRAND ROUNDS/TOPICS IN PATHOLOGY PRACTIC

Objective:

To present current information in the fields of basic science research and practical diagnostic pathology to the pathology faculty and residents.

Mechanism:

A variety of topics are present at Grand Rounds, which runs weekly from August through June. Of the approximately 38 conferences given a year, 10 will be given by basic science speakers, 10 by experts in diagnostic pathology, 12 by USF faculty, 4-6 by residents.

The Pathology department will invite expert speakers from around the country and from within the department to speak on a variety of topics in anatomic and clinical pathology . Frequently, speakers will include members of the Pathology Board test writing committees.
When possible, speakers may also conduct a microscope session specifically for the residents later in the day where interesting cases will be discussed.

Research

The Department considers research an integral part of preparation for the practice of Pathology. Residents interested in academic practice will have the opportunity through elective time to pursue research projects in more depth than the required minimum. Residents who wish to enter community practice may spend elective time refining diagnostic skills or beginning to pursue a subspecialty. However, the Department believes that all residents, regardless of their career direction, should actively participate in at least one research project. Through this activity, residents will learn to ask appropriate and defined questions (hypothesis formulation), seek the best ways of answering questions (experimental design), judge the reliability of information (data acquisition and controls), assess the relevance of information (statistical analysis), and weigh the validity of conclusions (statistical inferences). Experience with this process is valuable in daily practice in both community and academic Pathology.

The residency manual contains a list of faculty research interest, as well as the forms and procedures to initiate a research project. Each resident should approach faculty members who have listed projects that may be of interest to the resident. After discussion of the project and mutual consent, the resident under supervision of the faculty member will be responsible for all phases of the project including hypothesis formulation, literature review, experimental design, data acquisition, statistical analysis, and conclusions. A resident may also pursue an original project of his or her own design by collaborating with a willing faculty member. The scope of projects that will be considered appropriate range from clinical/pathological correlation to basic bench research. The individual faculty member will be responsible for securing space and funding for the proposed research. Residents may also be able to obtain departmental funding.

In the spring of the PGY4 year each resident will present his/her project at the Pathology Residents Spring Research Seminar. This seminar will be held each year and attended by current residents, Pathology faculty, alumni of the USF Pathology Residency Training Program, and all other interested faculty and residents in the College of Medicine. Each presentation will be approximately thirty minutes in length and all PGY4 Pathology resident will be required to present. Projects may begin as soon as the PGY1 year but should be well in progress by the beginning of the PGY3 year. Research activities may be pursued concurrently with required rotations and/or during elective time. All other responsibilities of a required or elective rotation must be satisfied before a resident may spend time doing research.

This component of the Residency Training Program was instituted in July 1992, and the first required Pathology Residents Spring Research Seminar was held in the spring of 1996. Involvement in research outside of this program is also strongly encouraged. In addition, presentation at national meetings and publication in peer-reviewed journals is encouraged and will be supported by the Department upon individual approval.

Travel Funding

All residents are required to participate in and present a research project during their training period; this research can take several different forms. All research projects must take place under the direction of a USF faculty member, preferably from the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology. This may take place while performing other rotations, or the resident may request elective time for research; the latter must be approved in advance with approval of the residency directors.

Before commencing any research, a one-page proposal documenting the hypothesis, goals, methods, expected results, and a brief budget must be submitted to Dr. Nicosia and the residency directors for approval. Failure to do so will result in lack of funding/travel support/requested elective time. Any funding that may be needed must be approved by Dr. Nicosia.

Please note that IRB approval is needed for any research involving patient chart review or usage of Surgical Pathology archival material. For forms and instructions, go to www.usf.edu, click "Research" link, go to Research Compliance" and then "Forms and Templates" section.

If the research is to be submitted for poster or platform presentation at a meeting, which would require travel expenses, a Travel Authorization form detailing anticipated expenses should be filled out and approved by the Chairman BEFORE the abstract is submitted for acceptance. It is also strongly recommended that after presentation of an abstract, that a manuscript of the research be submitted for publication. An individual's publication "track record" will reflect favorably on the department, the resident, and the resident's future ability to travel to meetings.

The faculty advisor program is provided to assist the resident in their transition from medical school to house officer. For more senior residents, the faculty advisor can also in the selection of electives and provide career and/or fellowship guidance. The goals of the program are: 1) to insure successful transition for the resident from the role of medical student to resident, 2) to review resident evaluations, 3) to obtain feedback from the resident for program improvement, 4) to assist the resident in developing their full potential in AP, CP and research.

Personal Policies

I. General Principles

These policies are complementary to the USF House Officer Personnel policies agreed to when the contract is signed. The following policies reiterate and expand upon these policies as they pertain to the Pathology Department. An official copy of the House Staff Policy Manual can be obtained from Sylvia Beacham or online at www.hsc.usf.edu, link College of Medicine, click Education, click Graduate Medical Education. All official matters regarding house staff policies are delineated through the Office of Graduate Medical Education and fully defined in the USF house staff manual.

1. Each resident shall be credited with two (2) weeks or 10 working days starting their first year; three (3) weeks or 15 working days per year are provided thereafter. In general, vacation leave is to be taken in increments of a full week. Taking vacation during 1-month rotations is discouraged. Vacation leave days may not be carried over from one appointment year to the next, and no payment for unused leave days will be made upon terminating a training period.
2. A total of 9 days of sick leave per year are allowed to each resident; in addition one day of sick leave per year is credited to the sick leave pool.
3. Only five (5) days of unused sick leave can be carried over to the next appointment year; for maternity/paternity purposes only. Unused sick leave will not be paid upon termination of a training period for any cause.
4. Each resident must arrange coverage for his or her service responsibilities when vacation is taken. This may be in the form of a “trade” with other residents. All such arrangements must be approved in advance by the attending whose service is affected and the Program Coordinator of the institution.
5. The following method will be used to report vacation/sick leave:
   
   
   1. The vacation/sick leave request form is to be filled out and turned in as soon as vacation is planned; during Surgical Pathology rotations this is to be no later than the beginning of the rotation. This form must be co-signed by the attending heading the rotation. A leave request form is included in the following pages. This may be copied for residents use.
   2. No greater than one consecutive week of vacation leave in one rotation should be taken, unless it is a part of maternity leave.
   3. At the end of the rotation, the resident evaluation form will include a section on whether the resident has taken vacation/sick leave during the rotation.
   4. When a resident uses sick leave, the rotation director at the assigned hospital and Sylvia Beacham should be notified by telephone that day. Upon returning to work, the vacation/sick leave form is filled out and turned in to Sylvia Beacham in the Pathology and Cell Biology Department at USF.
      
6. Administrative (Professional) leave:

Administrative leave is available to residents for professional activities approved by the Program Director and the Graduate Medical Education Office.

1. The policies for family and medical leave are the same as stated in the House Office Personnel Policy booklet, briefly:
   1. Parental. Each resident is allowed up to twelve (12) weeks of uncompensated parental leave. Individuals must apply for parental leave in advance and obtain approval from their Program Director and the GME Office. Individuals may utilize accumulated sick or vacation leave as continued compensation during parental leave under the conditions specified for those benefits. No other compensation is available for parental leave. If both parents are USF residents, a combined total of 12 weeks of parental leave is allowed as prescribed by FMLA.

Absences from the residency in excess of that allowed by the RRC and Board must be made up in order to fulfill the requirements for completion set forth by the ACGME.

2. As soon as it is feasible, the department should be notified of a resident’s pregnancy so that a review of her remaining rotations and any necessary changes may be made. In general, pregnant residents are expected to perform the usual duties of the rotations to which they are assigned, unless excused for medical or other reasons by their physician. Residents may be excused from assigned rotations and reassigned if the attending pathologist on that rotation believes the duties of the rotation pose an undue risk to a pregnant woman or child.
   
3. Child Care. Upon written approval of the Program Director and GME Office, uncompensated leave for childcare purposes up to a maximum of six months shall be granted. The leave shall begin no more than two weeks before the expected adoption or delivery date. When certified by a licensed physician, sick leave credits may be used for any illness caused or contributed to by pregnancy or delivery. Vacation leave credits may also be used in conjunction with childcare leave. (See sections on Parental, Sick, and Vacation Leave.)
   
4. Leave without pay

Upon written request of a resident, the Program Director may grant a leave of absence without pay for a period not to exceed six (6) months, if it is determined that granting such leave would be in the best interest of the University and House Officer.
**All leave in excess of 4 weeks per year must be made up at the end of the resident’s training.

1. The purpose of the dress code is to maintain high standards of dress, hygiene, grooming and the personal appearance of the staff members, which are essential elements in our daily relations with patients, families, and visitors in assuring a professional, business-like representation.
2. Without unduly restricting individual tastes, it is our policy to require personal cleanliness, good grooming and appropriate dress while staff members are on duty every day of the week and to establish a mechanism by which uniforms will be provided to employees in positions meeting designated criteria.
3. Operational needs within a department may require specific departmental policies, but in all cases standards must be in compliance with infection control and safety guidelines. In departments where staff members will have contact with patients, uniforms may be required. In departments where uniforms are not required, staff members are expected to use good judgment in selecting the clothes they wear on the job. Male staff members must wear neckties except where specific uniforms dictate otherwise.
4. Extreme styles should be avoided:
   
   
   1. Revealing clothing such as midriff tops, tank tops, shorts, rompers, beachwear, cut-offs, see-through clothing, or any street clothes that expose the body to a degree that represents poor taste or unprofessional appearance.
   2. Workout clothing such as sweat suits, spandex exercise wears, jogging suits, sweat pants, or other athletic wear.
   3. T-shirts, sweat shirt, or any other clothing with commercial logos, slogans, or other art or designs that might be offensive to others.
   4. Any clothing that does not properly fit (excessively small or large for the wearer) and/or exposes the wearer to any added risk of injury.

1. All residents must be ACLS/BCLS certified, according to the bylaws of the Health Sciences Center Trust Fund prior to their start date of July 1.
2. All residents must apply for licensure/registration with the Florida Department of Professional Regulation as soon as they are eligible (after the first year of residency training), according to the bylaws of the Health Sciences Center Trust Fund. Applications are available from the Housestaff Office at TGH, or by writing the DPR.

1. A senior resident at each institution is that resident with the most seniority (i.e. years of training). An acting senior resident will be assigned among residents of equal seniority. That person is usually responsible for the following:
   1. Assisting the head of anatomic Pathology in making out the weekend call schedule at the beginning of the rotation, at which time resident vacation requests must be submitted.
   2. Assisting the head of anatomic Pathology in the making of the daily grossing/autopsy schedule for residents