Learning histopathology: A trainee's viewpoint

Abstract

The review article gives a personal account of being a trainee at one of the new senior house officer histopathology training schools in the UK, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of such training. The review compares traditional ad hoc ‘apprenticeship’ training with the new senior house officer school model of teaching a cohort of new trainees academically and practically in a ‘systems-based’ way. The academic content of the course is discussed. The structure of registrar training is described, highlighting new changes occurring in 2005 when a new continuous training schedule from senior house officer to consultant was initiated. The article discusses some issues arising from this, such as research opportunities and an accelerated schedule of examination attainment. The strengths of histopathology training in the UK are outlined, and generic aspects of this may be translatable to training in other environments.