Here are the citations -
Page DL, Gray GF Jr.
Intraoperative consultations by pathologists at the Mayo Clinic: a unique experience.
Mayo Clin Proc. 1995 Dec;70(12):1222-3. No abstract available.
Ferreiro JA, Myers JL, Bostwick DG.
Accuracy of frozen section diagnosis in surgical pathology: review of a 1-year experience with 24,880 cases at Mayo Clinic Rochester.
Mayo Clin Proc. 1995 Dec;70(12):1137-41.
The latter article is generally available from most med school libraries on line or in stacks. Explains the process pretty well.
Sorry, I know this doesn't have much to do with interviews but it is of interest...
Tonka mentioned about the same day biopsy results - frozen sections at mayo are only done on the OR cases (e.g. open biopsies, major resections). Something that is a small biopsy of a few millimeters is not done as a frozen unless it is to assess adequacy of specimen for analysis. GI biopsies, cervix, etc, other biopsies considered as small cases are processed in many cases the same day, but not as frozen sections. Mayo has a continuous, rolling histology processing center where if a biopsy is done early in the morning (like prostate), the slides will generally be out by late afternoon and can be signed out the same day. This isn't really the same thing as the frozen technique.
Certain things are not done by frozen. Brains are treated with cytology and touch prep, no freezing unless there is a lot of tissue. Sentinel lymph nodes are not signed out immediately, they are held over for a look on permanents. So I think it is a mistake to say that virtually all mayo pathology is done with frozens and on the same day, as this is really only true for the OR cases.
And, in regards to those "rankings". Important to remember that all rankings are subjective to the biases and whims of the observer. A program may be the best for some but turn out to be the worst for others. One should never consider a program just because someone says it is the best. I applied to some programs in your top tier but ignored some others. I also applied to a few that you did not list. I always like to hear good things about programs, but not just that they are "the best." A resident who comes out of these programs is not necessarily going to be a better clinician than someone from Podunk U. It mostly depends on the individual, their motivation, and strengths.
)
