Pathologists’ Assistants Program

 
SATURDAY JULY 12
0700-1700 Registration Open
0700-0800 Set-up Posters/Breakfast
0800-0900 Next Generation Biobanking
0910-1010 OLA Requirements for the Pathologists’ Assistant
1010-1030 Refreshment Break
1030-1130 Pitfalls in the Gross Examination of Endocrine Organs
1130-1240 Gross Evaluation of Mediastinal Masses
1240-1400 Poster Presentations/Lunch
1400-1700 AGM/Elections
1930-2230 PA/Resident Dinner (Open to spouses and other CAP-ACP attendees)
 
SUNDAY JULY 13
0700-1100 Registration Open
0700-0800 PA Executive Committee Breakfast
0900-1030 Gross is Great! – Hands On Workshops
Workshops P1312-P1318**
1030-1100 Refreshment Break
1100-1230 Gross is Great! – Hands On Workshops
Workshops P1322-P1328**
Sunday Afternoon Group Activity
1900-2100 CAP-ACP President’s Reception

 

 

Next Generation Biobanking
Saturday, July 12, 0800-0900

 

Dianne Chadwick, Manager, Biospecimen Repository, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario

 

Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the the work flow for optimal procurement of biospecimens for future research.
  • Learn about the types of next generation ‘omic’ research supported by Biospecimen Sciences.
  • Understand the concept of personalized medicine.

Description:

Optimal procurement and deep molecular characterization of human biospecimens are key elements for developing precision medicine of the future. We review key elements of developing and implementing a high-quality, cutting-edge BioSpecimen Sciences Program. Using our established academic programme as a specific example, we focus on quality ofbiospecimen practice including research consent of patients, ultra-rapid biobanking, information technology, quality control measures, proficiency testing, and optimal preservation for downstream molecular analysis. We emphasize that Pathology is the central medical speciality of personalized medicine in the modern healthcare setting.

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OLA Requirements for the Pathologists’ Assistant
Saturday, July 12, 0910-1010

 

Ron Giesler, QMP-LS, Toronto, Ontario

 

Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • List the ISO 15189 laboratory accreditation requirements that pertain to pathologists’ assistants.
  • Explain how ISO 15189 requirements relate to the work that a pathologist’s assistant performs within a laboratory’s quality management system.
  • Summarize the role of the pathologists’ assistant as it pertains to a robust quality management program.

Description:

A pathologists’ assistant is expected to be a fully working member of the laboratory, operating within the laboratory’s quality management system. Laboratories accredited under the ISO 15189 requirements, operate under specific guidelines ensuring safe work practices and the mitigation of patient risk. Specific ISO 15189 requirements, as they pertain to the pathologists’ assistants working in accredited anatomic pathology laboratories, will be highlighted and discussed. This presentation will be of value to pathologists’ assistant, pathology residents and pathologists involved in the training and competency assessment of pathologists’ assistants.

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Pitfalls in the Gross Examination of Endocrine Organs
Saturday, July 12, 1030-1130

 

Dr. Ozgur Mete, Consultant in Endocrine Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario

 

Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participants will be able to learn the pitfalls in the gross examination of endocrine organs by understanding the rational of sampling, and appreciating the importance of accurate grossing in the clinical management of patients with endocrine lesions

 

Description:

This lecture focuses on the critical importance of accurate grossing with clinic-pathologic correlations in endocrine lesions. Special emphasis will be given to the clinical responsibilities of pathologists’ assistants in the management of patients with endocrine neoplasms. This lecture is designed for pathologists’ assistants, general pathologists, residents, and fellows with special interest in this area.

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Gross Evaluation of Mediastinal Masses
Saturday, July 12, 1140-1240

 

Dr. Farah Moid, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario

 

Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participants will be able to:

  • Distinguish the anatomic boundaries of mediastinum and its parts.
  • List the structures/organs located in different parts of mediastinum and their pathologic lesions.
  • Summarize the key features in gross handling of anterior mediastinal specimens.

Description:

Mediastinum lies between right and left pleura and extends from sternum in front and vertebral column behind. It is divided into superior, anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum. The common lesions seen in mediastinum arise from thymus, thyroid gland, lymphoid tissue, germ cell tumors and neural tissue. We will discuss the likely location of these lesions in different parts of mediastinum, correlation with clinical information and the key points in gross evaluation of anterior mediastinal masses. The importance of tissue handling for ancillary studies will also be discussed. The lecture will be of value to pathology assistants and pathology residents.

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Gross is Great! – Hands On Workshops
Workshops P1312-P1318**
Sunday, July 13, 0900-1030

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Gross is Great! – Hands On Workshops
Workshops P1322-P1328**
Sunday, July 13, 1100-1230

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**PAs will be contacted after they register for the conference to select their PA workshops. PA Workshops are limited and will be filled in a first come-first serve basis.

 

As named the workshops are designed to provide an opportunity for PAs to interact with gross specimens in the laboratory. Each PA should pick 2 workshops, one for each time slot. These are included in the PA Program price. Space will be limited to 15 PAs/workshop in order to allow for optimal learning and discussion so please register early to get your choice. See below for additional information about each workshop:

 

 

 

P1312/P1322: Dissection of Lung Tumours: A St. Joseph’s Approach

 

Adelina Katz, PA, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Lindsay Lam, PA MSc, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario

 

There will be a short power point presentation that will include anatomy, major classes of tumours, identification of common abnormalities and outline of grossing techniques. This will be followed by a wet tissue presentation that will include different types of lung resections, identifying tumours and other abnormalities and identifying resection margins.

Handouts will be available.

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P1313/P1323: Liver: Segments, Lobes and Hepatectomies

 

Sarah James, PA MLT, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario

 

This workshop will include a review of liver anatomy, types of liver resection, and how to describe and sample these specimens for benign and malignant lesions and other liver pathology. Wet tissue specimens will be available for gross review.

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P1314/P1324: Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours – a Hands On Approach

 

Brian Chow, BSc MLT PA, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario

 

This workshop will provide an introduction to bone and soft tissue pathology. We will cover various types of bone and soft tissue pathologies and review grossing techniques and learn about diagnostic requirements for the examination of these specimens. A wet tissue session will follow to review material covered.

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P1315/P1325: Radial Margin on the Right Side: Where is It?

 

Jessica Swain, BSc PA (ASCP), Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Ontario

 

This workshop will provide a platform for discussion of the radial surgical margin in right hemicolectomy specimens. There will be a focus on clearly identifying the radial and other margins on right hemicolectomy specimens and communicating them clearly in the gross description. There will be wet specimens for demonstration, a review of terminology related to surgical margins and discussion of some of the pitfalls of assessing surgical margins in right hemicolectomy specimens.

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P1316/P1326: The PA’s Guide to the Perinatal Autopsy

 

Megan Thompson, BA, BSc AAM, MSc, PA (ASCP), Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario

 

This workshop will cover stillbirth and genetic termination autopsies both under and over 20 weeks gestation. We will look at documentation required and suggested, description and dissection techniques. This will include a powerpoint presentation and some fetal examination depending on availability. We will look at actual equipment involved, including faxitron, developer, dissection microscope and instruments. The aim of this workshop is to give you an introduction and the basic steps in performing these autopsies.

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P1317/P1327: Broken Hearts: A Review of Normal Pediatric Cardiac Anatomy and Some Common Congenital Abnormalities

 

Susan Cromwell, BSc PA, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario

 

This introductory level workshop is for those who have little, or no, experience with pediatric cardiac examination. During the workshop, normal cardiac anatomy will be reviewed, along with standard procedures for opening the cardiac specimen. Participants will have an opportunity to handle normal hearts, as well as hearts affected by some more common congenital abnormalities that will also be discussed during the session. This is not a workshop for those who have extensive experience with cardiac specimens, it is rather for those who would like to gain a little more comfort in examining the heart and recognizing normal versus abnormal.

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P1318/P1328: PB & J: Prostate and Bladder: How to Find the Ureterovesical Junction Every Time

 

Andrea Axente, BSc MSc PA, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario

 

This workshop will begin with a power point overview of the genitourinary system, and a brief review of common pathologies associated with prostate and bladder specimens. The wet-tissue component will include grossing of a prostate and cystoprostatectomy specimen, including a discussion of different techniques employed across various institutions.

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