Ascension Providence Hospital Pathology

Faculty Contact: Timothy Mervak, MD

Rotation Location: Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus 

Duration of the Rotation: 4 weeks

Students Per Month: 1

Work Hours: Weekdays

Prerequisites: 2 years of medical school; MCE completion for MSU CHM students; 3rd year core rotations required for students from other schools.

MSUCHM Course #: HM 610

General: This rotation is a survey of the multiple activities in a clinical pathological laboratory, with emphasis on anatomic pathology.  It is designed to acquaint the senior medical student with the practice of laboratory medicine in a community hospital and the nature of a career in Clinical and Anatomical Pathology.

Goals & Objectives:

  • Exposure to the role of the pathologist in administration, quality control, policy determination, organization and teaching.
    • Study processing of surgical specimens.
    • Observe frozen sections, autopsies, bone marrows.
    • Attend Gross and Microscopic Pathology Conferences, Medical-Surgical Tumor Board, and Gynecology Tumor Board.
    • Orientation to a range of Laboratory Information Services
  • Hematology
    • Learn about automated hematologic analysis.
    • Review quality control.
    • Observe bone marrows.
    • Introduction to interpretation of peripheral smears
  • Cytology
    • Introduction to cervical Pap smear, Bethesda System classification
  • Blood Bank
    • Attend formal transfusion medicine lectures given by the Director of the Blood Bank.
    • Observe antibody screening and identification, blood typing and cross-matching donor processing.
    • Learn about use of RhoGAM.
    • Learn about role of directed and autologous blood donor programs.
  • Microbiology and Serology
    • Observe processing of all types of specimens, growth characteristics, identification methodology.
    • Study uses of fluorescent antibody techniques, ELISA and DNA probe technology.
    • Offered at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
  • Biochemistry
    • Observe standard ultramicro and automated methods, including multiphasic screening.
    • Follow through from specimen drawing to reporting.
    • Quality control methods – special chemistry – computer applications and applications in chemistry – establishment of “normal” values.
  • Optional forensic pathology experience
    • Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office
  • Optional outpatient phlebotomy experience

Evaluation: At the end of the rotation, the Rotation Director will collect data from the supervising physician and other medical team members and complete a written evaluation of the student that is reflective of the student’s academic competence, procedural proficiency and professional attributes. The standard medical school form from the student’s medical school will be used. If required, the student should complete a case log and an evaluation of the rotation and submit them to their medical school.