Gynecologic Oncology Fellows: Pathology Rotation

The Gynecological Pathology elective at Sunnybrook provides the gynecologic oncology fellow with the necessary background to develop an in-depth understanding of the importance of clinical-pathological correlation and multidisciplinary team cooperation.

Supervisor: Dr. M. Khalifa

Teaching Pathologists: Drs.  V. Dubé, N. Ismiil, M. Khalifa, S. Nofech-Mozes, G. Han, M. Cesari

Description of the Fellowship: The Toronto Training Program is the largest Royal College-accredited gynecologic oncology fellowship training program in Canada. An elective rotation in pathology is available for gynecologic oncology fellows at Sunnybrook. Our Department of Anatomic Pathology receives more than 10,000 gynecological pathology surgical specimens annually, more than 7,000 of which are neoplastic. Most of the oncologic cases are referred with exceptionally complex and unusual scenarios (For more information, see our department profile). The fellow will have the unique opportunity of handling and studying some of the most unique surgical specimens and unusual entities.

Highest priority is given to attending the departmental robust intra-operative consultation service; the fellow will be called for every gynecological intra-operative consultation (IOC) and he/she will be excused from other activities during that time. Participation in IOCs will offer the fellow the necessary background to develop an in-depth understanding of the importance of clinical-pathologic correlation and multidisciplinary team communication as well as indication, role and limitations of frozen section evaluation.

The fellow will be given the opportunity to look at slides and sign out large cases with the staff on a daily basis. He/she will be expected to discuss all relevant clinical information related to these cases in detail. The fellow will review gross and macroscopic description of large gynecologic oncology cases on a weekly basis in coordination with the senior Pathologist-Assistant/Demonstrator.

Participation in the department's weekly gynecological pathology consensus meetings and to the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre tumour boards will offer the fellow the practical experience of being an integral part of the multidisciplinary decision-making team; this will help the fellow appreciate the various diagnostic challenges in gynecological pathology and their clinical implications. Adequate and full academic support will be available for the fellow as desired.

The fellow will be encouraged to perform additional scholarly activities with the pathology staff including, but not limited to:

• Discussing a paper of interest
• Participating in a translational research project or presentation
• Preparing and reviewing archival material of rare examples of tumours

Objectives: This rotation will familiarize the trainee with:

• IOC strategies and communication techniques
• Appropriate submission procedures of specimens to pathology laboratory (e.g. orientation, media)
• Laboratory approaches to describing and handling gross specimens
• Diagnostic criteria of common gynecological neoplasms
• Utilization and application of ancillary techniques
• Limitations of gross and microscopic examination
• Importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and communication

Duration of the elective: One month

Eligibility: Open to fellows of the University of Toronto gynecologic oncology training program.

Availablity for visiting gynecologic oncology fellows from other universities: If original university's financial support is maintained

Number of Fellows: One gynecologic oncology fellow at a time