I'm a 4th year student, starting my last rotation. In my Path rotation at the beginning of 4th year, I did very little grossing. How much experience do you need going into residency? Should I try to get more comfortable before starting? I don't want to look like too much of an idiot. Thanks.
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How much grossing experience needed?
Started by Circumflex
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You'll look like an idiot no matter how much "experience" you have had (unless you did a surg path heavy psf with lots of autonomy, then you may not look as much like an idiot, but you still will for the most part). Its not surprising that you didn't do much grossing on your electives; when I had visiting med students with me I would show (and let them do) appys, gallbags, and placentas. I would show them how to gross in a breast ca, colon ca, etc but would not let them do it (for obvious reasons). After 2 days OTJ, you'll be fairly proficient with these specimens (with the exception of a really f'd placenta). Don't worry about it--no one expects you to know anything re: grossing, so take a damn vacation already.
You'll get all the training you need grossing in residency...probably more than you want.😉
one pathologist at my home school recently told me something i think applies here: path is a specialty where they expect you to know very little about the field, just the appropriate clinical knowledge and some basic histology. she also said that's why the first year of path residency is a pretty steep learning curve.
B
b&ierstiefel
None
I never grossed a single thing before starting residency.
Next.................
Trust me, if you're getting anywhere near a -normal- residency, you'd be liable to get more grossing experience than you'd ever really want. The Numbero Uno reason to heaf for Dermpath (apart from the $$$ and leisurely working hrs) is NO GROSSING. EVER!
Apart from that, mlw03 is right. Apart from the basics, virtually all path residents are greener than martians when they begin. Hopefully, things improve along the way...
Apart from that, mlw03 is right. Apart from the basics, virtually all path residents are greener than martians when they begin. Hopefully, things improve along the way...
Exactly. I could barely get a scalpel blade onto the handle, much less get the darn thing off. Luckily, they expect NOTHING in terms of grossing experience!
If you can't gross any specimen by the first day of residency, bag it, you aren't going to make it!!! Kidding, you'll be grossing and dictating without a hitch after your first two weeks. Seriuosly, after you gross every other or every third day for a few weeks, you start to wish you had a TV or something to keep you entertained- that is until you get a huge lumpectomy with positive biopsy proven CA and no obvious mass (uninked). You'll know what I mean next year. Can you say 70 cassettes? And, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm sooooooo happy to have found Path! 
You'll only look like an idiot if you match into a class of FMGs who were attendings in their home country. 😉
