During rotations, trainees will engage in a comprehensive learning experience encompassing various aspects of digital pathology. This includes working with whole slide imaging systems and scanner software. Trainees will gain hands-on experience in high-resolution slide imaging and delve into image analysis techniques, such as annotation, quantification, and clinical decision support tools. Exposure to different digital pathology platforms and software will be provided to effectively navigate and interpret digital slides.

Additionally, the rotations cover the application of telepathology for remote consultation, quality control processes, and validation procedures. Integration with laboratory information systems, understanding regulatory considerations, and ethical aspects of digital pathology usage will also be addressed.

Trainees may participate in research projects and contribute to educational initiatives by developing skills in problem-solving and troubleshooting technical issues. Overall, the rotation aims to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage digital technology for enhanced diagnostic capabilities, collaboration, and research within the field of pathology. 

Fellows will rotate through the Diagnostic Molecular Pathology (DMP) laboratory, the country’s largest academic molecular laboratory specializing in cancer testing, where they will be exposed to the informatics side of genomic testing. This includes the development, validation, and deployment of software that supports dozens of molecular assays performed in the lab, ranging from traditional to high-throughput technologies. Trainees will attend interactive courses where they will obtain software coding skills and hands-on training in introductory software development, including Linux shell scripting, introductory data science, data visualization, and machine learning of genomic data using R and Python.

Fellows will be exposed to the application and use of lab data in laboratory operations, clinical decision support, quality monitoring, lab automation, and research. They will learn the process of evaluating new laboratory information systems, developing requests-for-proposal (RFP), and implementing/validating digital systems for clinical use. Trainees will also be exposed to the use of middleware for medical practice and for the interface of diagnostic instruments to information systems. Fellows will work closely with medical technologist subject matter experts (SMEs) to understand the application of clinical informatics to clinical and lab workflows and the process of building tests in an information system.

Fellows will work closely with our hospital information technology team, DigITs (Digital Informatics & Technology Solutions). For the 2024-2025 academic year, we offer the experience of implementing a new hospital electronic medical record and laboratory information system. This experience includes project management, collaboration with hospital informaticists, data conversion, enterprise operations informatics, systems validations, and participation in committees that make decisions on how the new hospital information system is configured and deployed.

Fellows will also accompany pathology informatics leaders at institutional clinical informatics committees, including nursing informatics, clinical decision support group, and the lab practices committee. They will also be exposed to institutional research initiatives from the informatics research group in DigITs.