SYLLABUS for VPAT‑5401 Anatomic Pathology Clerkship
(This syllabus is subject to change)
Permission of the department is required and enrollment is limited. The course is for a two- week rotation.
Objectives. The student will gain a more in depth practical knowledge of how to utilize anatomic pathology and the diagnostic laboratory support to diagnose disease problems in animals.
The student will:
Perform necropsies and write gross pathology reports
Order ancillary tests as needed to obtain a definitive diagnosis
Perform microscopic examinations on 1-2 cases.
Assimilate findings from the above into a final diagnostic report.
II. Requirements and Responsibilities
A. Attendance is required. Absences must be approved and made up (see Dr. Harmon). Until the absences are made up, a grade of “I” (incomplete) will be reported for the course.
B. Scheduling
1. Weekdays: Necropsy laboratory runs from 1 to 5 PM or until cases are complete and the lab is clean. Students will assist in laboratory cleanup.
a. Pre‑necropsy conference will begin daily at 1:00 PM in room 171.
b. Necropsy rounds will be held daily at 4:00 PM in room 176 (AQS room).
c. A visit to the Athens Diagnostic Laboratory is scheduled for 9:00 AM on the second Thursday of the rotation.
d. Microscopic findings will be reviewed with the pathologist on duty.
2.
C. CALC Lessons. The CALC lessons concerning Orientation & Safety must be viewed on Day 1.
D. Necropsy laboratory:
1. Safe practices will be followed at all times (see p. 6).
2. Animals submitted to the laboratory will receive a complete necropsy and a complete set of tissues will be collected and labeled properly (see p.7). Deviations from protocol will occur only as instructed by the pathologist of record.
E. Paperwork and Deadlines
1. Necropsy reports (pp 8-9) on assigned cases are due by 8 AM the next day.
2. Daily case assessments/topics assigned by the pathologist on duty are due by 8 AM the next day.
3. “ Case assessment" is due on or before the next to last day of the rotation.
a. The case will be chosen by the student but approved by the pathologist‑of‑record. Visit with the pathologist and clarify his/her expectations for the assignment before beginning to write (this may prevent misunderstandings that necessitate significant revisions).
b. Hand-in the finished assessment to the pathologist‑of‑record. Do not place it in the box for necropsy reports.
c. Amended reports, if required, are due on the last day of the rotation
III. Evaluation of Student Performance
A. Course grading is pass/fail. A grade of “incomplete” (“I”) will be reported when appropriate.
B. To receive a passing grade for the necropsy section of this rotation, the student must:
1. accomplish all requirements listed above.
receive an overall satisfactory subjective evaluation from the pathology/diagnostic laboratory faculty.
IV. Instructors
Dr. Barry Harmon - harmonb@vet.uga.edu
Dr. Corrie Brown - corbrown@vet.uga.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Howerth - ehowerth@vet.uga.edu
Dr. Paige Carmichael – kpc@vet.uga.edu