Table 2.

Transition to discipline, sample grossing EPA.

Participating in basic specimen handling	Assessment plan:	Evaluation type:
Use of the basic knowledge covered in the orientation to the laboratory in order to:	Part A: Specimen handling	Direct observation of specimen type by teaching resident or PA, minimum 5 observations.
	Direct observation or case review by teaching/senior resident or PA.
•Match requisition and container and/or specimen		Final written exam or oral exam after surg path block in 1st year (ME 1.3)
•Systematically verify the adequacy of patient and clinical information (requisition adequacy and completeness such as documentation of ischemic time) to initiate laboratory evaluation of a specimen	Use form 1Aa	Clinical scenario:
•Select and recognize the appropriate fixative type (formalin, alcohol) and assess whether the quantity and size of the specimen container is appropriate
•Match slides, blocks, and requisition	Collect 5 observations of achievement per subspecialty bench
	Part B: Assessment of knowledge
	Evidence of satisfactory completion of a structured oral or written quiz administered by the supervising pathologist
	Collect 1 observation of achievement
	Relevant milestones:
Summarizing relevant clinical information for clinicopathologic correlation	Assessment Plan:	Evaluation type:
Extracting clinical information, including clinical history, relevant laboratory and imaging results from a number of different sources (including electronic), interpreting this information in light of the clinical question, and providing a summary.	Case discussion and/or review of written clinical summary by supervisor (PA, teaching resident, or attending pathologist)	Observations/case discussion by pathologist while resident presents a case (after synthesizing relevant info from various sources) before sign out.
	Use Form 1Aa
	Collect 5 observations of achievement per subspecialty bench
	Relevant milestones:
	PC2.1
Demonstrating basic skills in microscopy	Assessment Plan:	Evaluation type:
Using a microscope correctly and troubleshooting its principal problems	Part A: Microscopy	Direct observation by supervisor
	Direct observation by supervisor.	Structured oral or written quiz administered by the supervising pathologist
This includes:	Collect at least 1 observation of achievement	Clinical scenarios:
•Setting up the microscope (turning it on, adjusting the focus), using a polarizer and micrometer, understanding ergonomic setup	Part B: Assessment of knowledge	Orientation, preview, sign out
•Performing basic microscope maintenance such as changing objectives and bulbs	Evidence of satisfactory completion of a structured oral or written quiz administered by the supervising pathologist
•Viewing the slide	Collect 1 observation of achievement	Apply knowledge of how a light microscope works
	Relevant milestones:	- Perform basic microscope maintenance
	PC1.1	- Direct observation on day 1 by a coresident/staff of adjusting a microscope to create an image.
	PC4.1
	MK1.1
Demonstrate basic histology knowledge, tissue location, and interpretation	Assessment Plan:	Evaluation type:
Demonstrating basic knowledge of normal histologic	Part A: Interactive session	Demonstration by supervisor
	Slide session provided by pathology faculty, with review of normal histology, patterns, and cellular details.	Structured oral or written quiz administered by the supervising pathologist
This includes:	Part B: Assessment of knowledge
•Knowledge of normal histology of the most common organs.	Evidence of satisfactory completion of a structured oral or written quiz administered by the supervising pathologist	Clinical scenarios:
•Be able to describe histologic features at low power (pattern, borders) and high power (nucleus, chromatic, cytoplasm, cell shape)	Collect 1 observation of achievement	Orientation
•Utilize basic knowledge to identify tissue sources from unknown location.	Relevant milestones:
	PC4.1
	MK1.1
Summarize frozen section, touch prep and smears technique, workflow, and safe practices in intraoperative consultations	Assessment plan:	Evaluation type:
Demonstrating practical knowledge and familiarity of the intraoperative consultation workflow	Part A: Orientation session	Demonstration by supervisor, direct observation practicing technique in gross room
	Orientation session provided by pathology faculty, with overview of the intraoperative consultation workflow, and demonstrating safe technique for performing frozen sections, touch preps, and smears
This includes:		Clinical scenarios:
•Step by step knowledge on performing a frozen section, a touch prep, and a smear.	Part B: Assessment of knowledge	Orientation, gross room
•Be familiar with the location of tools, and equipment.	Evidence of satisfactory preparation of a frozen section, a touch prep, and a smear by direct observation from the supervising pathologist
•Demonstrate safe technique.	Relevant milestones:
	PC5.1
Creating a personal and teaching learning plan, and maintain a case exposure & volume log	Assessment Plan:	Evaluation type
•Creating and maintaining a clinical training portfolio	Part A: Clinical training portfolio	This would be direct observation of the case log, ensuring adequacy of information storage, and demonstration of a learning plan, identifying self-deficiencies, learning sources, and a plan for evaluation
•Presenting a personal learning project, including identifying a topic, and identifying and utilizing information sources, (including self-assessment).	Resident's submission of teaching and learning plan reviewed by surgical pathology rotation director, residency program director, or assistant residency program director	Clinical Scenario:
		End of rotation
	Use form 1Ba	Specific rotation:
	Collect 1 observation of achievement	Performed by rotation director at end of four specific blocks: orientation, block 2, block 6, block 12
	Part B: Personal learning project
	Direct observation by rotation director
	Use form 4a
	Collect 1 observation of achievement
	Relevant milestones:
	PBLI2

^aForms 1A, 1B, and 4 are available as Supplemental Data S1.