The Liver/GI fellow performs the gross dissection of a percentage of pancreatic or hepatic
specimens and previews and signs out a percentage of GI biopsies. While still working in a
fully supported environment, with the assigned attending, who is clearly delineated on the
weekly schedule distributed to trainees and staff, as ultimate supervisor, fellows are
independent in the dissection and sampling of more complex specimens to comply with
AJCC and WHO grading and staging criteria. Fellows gain familiarity with diagnosis of
common and complex biopsy and resection specimens by independent viewing at the
microscope, review of study sets, reading of textbooks and other literature, and by
discussion with attending pathologists at the microscope. Fellows learn reporting of
common and complex specimens by following diagnostic criteria and grading and staging
templates, as well as by consensus conference discussions with residents, fellows and
attending pathologists. In addition, the fellow previews and then signs out all of the
Liver/GI Program Director’s personal consultations.
