National Pathology Week 2019 ran from 4 to 10 November and as ever our members and supporters put on some amazing events all over the UK, and really celebrated our annual awareness week in style. We hope this round-up of just a few of the examples will inspire others to run something in their own region for NPW 2020!  

Durham’s Disease Detectives introduce organs and cells to hundreds 

A team of seven pathologists and scientists organised 'Pathology: Disease detectives' at Celebrate Science 2019, a three-day event at Durham University. 

Big and small organs and organelles were the themes of this year’s activities on the pathology stand at this 10th annual Celebrate Science Fair. Volunteers from all disciplines and grades at the County Durham and Darlington NHS FT supported the event. Visitors were invited to discover how heavy their organs actually weighed and how small intracellular organelles were. Over 3 days more than 300 petri-dish/playdough cells were made by little hands and some big ones too. 

Dr Tim Lang, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, University Hospital of North Durham

Inspiring the next generation at the Royal Surrey Hospital

Consultant Professor Silvana Di Palma and Biomedical Scientist, Bruno Ping hosted a free event at the Royal Surrey County Hospital during National Pathology Week. The event showcased how Royal Surrey’s Molecular Diagnostic Department uses the individual genetic make-up of tumour cells to support doctors in determining the treatment plans that will ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

School student Nicholas Jarrett, 14, who attended the event said ‘I’d always thought of pathologists as doctors who conducted autopsies and determined why someone had died. Professor Di Palma in her presentation described her role as ‘a medical detective’ and I came away inspired and keen to learn more. The opportunity to look at real cells through a microscope and to understand what I was looking at was fantastic. The event definitely opened my eyes to a potential career path and it was refreshing to learn about the lesser known opportunities within the NHS.’

Professor Di Palma added ‘I am passionate about helping young minds see the opportunities that pathology and medical sciences offer, listening to the questions they ask and their unique insights.’

Robyn Jarrett, Head of Communications, Engagement and Marketing, Royal Surrey County Hospital

Medical undergraduates ‘explore their cellular origins’ with histopathologists at St George’s Hospital, London

As part of this year's National Pathology week 2019, the SGUH Dept. of Cellular Pathology hosted some extracurricular activities to supplement the learning of medical undergraduates and promote the pathology specialty.

Students were invited to attend a talk entitled ‘Explore your Cellular Origins’, which was delivered by Dr Charanjit Kaur and Dr Lida Alarcon on 6 November. The pathologists introduced the basics of histology, the role of the histopathologist and how histology is relevant to clinical practice. Some students also visited the cellular pathology department in the Jenner Wing to watch specimen dissection as well as to learn/understand the intricacies of the histology lab. 

Dr Lida Alarcon and Dr Charanji Kaur, Consultant Histopathologists, St George's Hospital

‘Health has no boundaries’ workshop for school students in Wales

A Workshop for Schools on threats to human health and dealing with outbreaks of disease took place at Islwyn High School, Oakdale, Caerphilly County just before National Pathology Week. The event, run as a collaboration between Rotary Club South Wales and Public Health Wales, offered an exciting opportunity for students to learn more about the diseases which affect communities and the ways in which they might be prevented and treated. Talks by various specialists gave participants information about how an outbreak of a disease in their local community would be handled by the appropriate agencies. The students were invited to work in groups to deal with a realistic outbreak scenario, who were asked to think through the actions they would take to deal with it, and then present their ideas in the final session. Students were encouraged to find out more about microbiology and pathology during National Pathology Week, which took place shortly after this event.

Dr Brendan Healy, Consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Wales and Keith Moger, retired senior NHS manager

A Living Autopsy event at The King’s School Chester

This year The King’s School hosted one of the RCPath’s most popular events – The Living Autopsy. Partly funded by the RCPath’s Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme, this live audience-based event involved histopathologist Dr Natalie Meara as the presenter, as well as model playing a ‘dead body’. The event highlighted the process of a post mortem examination, and involved showing the real instruments used during the procedure, as well as images that aid explanation. The talk also explained the role of pathologists in hospitals, and what circumstances would lead to a post mortem being required for someone who has died. 

This sold-out event also offered students from both The King’s School and from other schools in the area, the chance to hear careers talks from pathologists working in different areas. 
Selena O’Donnell, Director of Marketing, Communication and Partnerships, The King’s School Chester

Hide and Seek – an immersive performance in London’s Petrie Museum

Pathologists, scientists, artists and members of the public collaborated on an atmospheric immersive performance at the Petrie Museum of Archaeology, University College London. Hide and Seek was supported by the RCPath Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme and the immersive performance really put the audience at the heart of the action. Visitors to the atmospheric Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology mingled with characters from the drama, to seek the hidden source of infection and outbreaks or discover the science of cures. 

The performance itself was the culmination of workshops with students and researchers from UCL, UCH and GOSH, artists, and the public, to explore the stories and science of ‘The Bug in The City’, that took place in the run-up to NPW. The project was designed by playwright Nicola Baldwin, UCL Creative Fellow, and Dr Elaine Cloutman-Green, Lead Healthcare Scientist at GOSH with Ian Davies of Staffordshire University School of Life Sciences, to encourage creative collaboration and skills exchange between science and arts students.

Nicola Baldwin, Playwright and UCL Creative Fellow

With thanks to the organisers of these inspiring events for sharing their photos and event reports. If you want ideas for next year check out our activities and resources. 

Save the date! National Pathology week 2020 will run from 2 to 8 November.