OVERVIEW

The autopsy is an extremely important tool for the study of human disease and for acquiring a solid foundation in basic morphology and pathophysiology. One 3-month long autopsy rotation occurs in the first year of training and forms the basis for subsequent AP rotations. Fetal, perinatal, pediatric and adult autopsies are performed for Parkland Hospital, Zale-Lipshy University Hospital and Children's Medical Center. Residents may also participate in natural death cases that come to the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office (Southwestern Institute for Forensic Sciences), which affords the opportunity to see disease unmodified by the effects of prolonged hospital treatment. Additional autopsies are performed during a one-month senior autopsy rotation at Parkland, during a one month rotation through Forensic Pathology, and during the VA rotation, so that residents have no difficulty in meeting the autopsy requirements of the American Board of Pathology. In addition to instilling sound technical skills, this experience is designed to foster critical review of the medical record and to facilitate the correlation of morphologic changes with clinical data. Only those faculty with a strong commitment to teaching autopsy pathology serve as attending staff. Pediatric and perinatal cases are staffed by members of the Division of Pediatric Pathology. Neuropathologists participate in the gross and microscopic examination of cases of neurologic disease. While on the autopsy service, the residents have no other conflicting service responsibilities.

FACULTY

• Dallas County Medical Examiners
  • Jeffrey Barnard
  • Amy Gruszecki
  • Joni McClain
  • J. Keith Pinckard
  • Reade Quinton
  • Lynn Salzberger
  • Sheila Spotswood
  • J.K. Townsend-Parchman
  • Jill Urban
• Pediatric Pathologists
  • Ana Gomez
  • Sarah Johnson-Welch
  • Linda Margraf
  • Dinesh Rakheja
  • Beverly Rogers
  • Ramiah Subramanian
  • Charles Timmons

DURATION

First rotation: 2 months of active case accrual followed by 1 month dedicated to case completion.
Second rotation:  1 month of active case accrual.  The case completion period runs concomitantly with the following Forensic Pathology and Neuropathology rotations (1 month each).

PREREQUISITES

None; although residents on their second rotation will be expected to show competency in additional activities beyond those required of residents on their first rotation

OBJECTIVES

Patient Care

Medical Knowledge

Practice-based Learning

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Professionalism

Systems-based Practice

CONFERENCES

• Autopsy Pathophysiology
• Brain Cutting Conference
• Children's Medical Center Autopsy Review
• Children's Medical Center Cardiology and ICU Conferences

BASIC READING

Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease