- Published:
- 22 April 2025
- Author:
- Professor Angharad Davies
- Read time:
- 3 Mins
The College has recently produced new guidance supporting flexibility in training times, to account for experience gained prior to or out of training programmes or learning at an exceptional rate. College Clinical Director of Training & Assessment Professor Ronan McMullan explains more. Some trainees have particular requirements for reasonable adjustments and educational supervisors also need to be aware and mindful of these. Dr Chris Tiplady explains what these are and how they can improve the working environment for trainees.
Another critically important element of any training environment is safety – of both patients and staff. College Vice President Professor Peter Johnston reflects on cultures of workplace safety and explores how pathology services can learn from different models and approaches to this.
On specialty-specific matters, a trainee offshoot of the College’s Death Investigation Committee (DIC) recently surveyed the opinions of autopsy trainees, gaining valuable insights that have been taken on board by the DIC. Dr Erin Whyte reports, and the Chair Dr Esther Youd provides her reflections. Meanwhile, Dr Bethany Williams explores some of the potential uses and benefits of digital slides in teaching and training, and shares some practical tips on how to integrate whole slide images into educational practice.
We could not have an issue with a training theme without hearing from the trainee voice loud and clear. Dr Ryan Clark, our new Trainee Section Editor, has been speaking to members of the College’s Trainee Advisory Committee (TAC) about some of the challenges they face. The TAC meets twice a year and, as part of that meeting, trainee representatives submit questions in advance, to be answered by College’s Learning Directorate staff. This issue has an article capturing some of these questions and answers. For those who would like to read these regularly, the Q&A from each meeting are published on the College TAC webpage: Trainees' Advisory Committee.
A major development in pathology education over the past few years has of course been the introduction of the Pathology Portal – the College’s flagship online resource. We have an update from Professor Jo Martin, Chair of the Project Board, on its continuing development in all specialties, followed by a particular focus on the haematology section and its use by trainers from Dr Tanya Freeman.
Finally, we have case studies from a number of specialties highlighting the use of educational innovations in different settings: Dr Taran Kullar, Junior Clinical Fellow in microbiology, describes the ‘Bug’s Life’ podcast series; Dr Geraldine Boyle and Dr Joseph Houghton report on including pathology in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs); Dr Asha Aggarwal explains how a simulated training course has been implemented to provide new haematology registrars with experience in emergency management; and Dr Alistair Heath, cellular pathology trainee, writes about his experience during an NHS clinical artificial intelligence fellowship.
Huge thanks to all our article authors, and especially the trainees, who have contributed. There are all sorts of ideas here that can be adapted for everyone, and I hope you find some inspiration!
Meet the author
-
Professor Angharad Davies
Clinical Director of Publishing and Engagement
