Summer School Feedback

The annual summer school event is sponsored by the College and six other pathology organisations, with consultants and current trainees on hand to talk about their careers and experiences.

It is a busy and interactive day with a mix of lectures and breakout sessions. The event is continually evolving to ensure it meets the requirements of our attendees and reflects current pathology practice, and the feedback from attendees allows us to do this. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive with 63% indicating that the event had persuaded them to pursue pathology as a career.

Five attendees reflect on their time at the summer school below. 

Pathology: a fascinating and diverse career

‘As I headed back to Victoria Coach Station I felt a sense of optimism, despite the fact that in classic London fashion, it was raining. A two-day event taking place at the Royal College of Pathologists and Guy’s Campus in the heart of London, the pathology summer school enlightened me to the notion that pathology is well and truly at the heart of everything that we do in medicine. It is the tree trunk connecting the core anatomical and physiological roots that we learn about preclinically to the different branches of medicine that grow from the study of disease. Any preconceived perceptions I had about pathology as a specialty were eradicated and I have been left seriously considering a career in this fascinating and diverse area…

It is the tree trunk connecting the core anatomical and physiological roots that we learn about preclinically to the different branches of medicine that grow from the study of disease.

‘The College had encompassed everything you would expect and desire from a summer school, which attracted medical students from all over the country. Firstly, inspiring lectures in the mornings from some brilliant speakers, which included everything from a ‘day in the life of a pathologist’ to hearing about infectious disease control across the continents. Secondly, interactive and engaging breakout sessions, which further allowed us students to gain an insight into the work a pathologist does, for instance the detective aspect of cancer diagnosis and post-mortem work. Furthermore, a chance to explore the plethora of pots at the Gordon Museum of Pathology filled me with a sense of wonder and awe.

‘Finally, I cannot go without mentioning that we were kindly put up in accommodation for a night and catered for excellently, which demonstrated that the organisers really knew how to tap into the hearts and minds of students. I would recommend this event to all medical students regardless of year group or specific interests.’

Miles Frost, University of Southampton

Pathology: medicine of the highest order

‘Before attending the pathology summer school, I had several questions such as: What is pathology? What are the roles of a pathologist? What are the future plans in the field of pathology? Is it only laboratory-based work? Are there patient interactions?

‘Nonetheless, I left the summer school with the answers to my questions from the diverse, inspirational pathologists. The summer school clarified some misconceptions of the field of pathology, such as pathologists working with ‘only’ autopsies and the lack of patient interaction. It’s fascinating to know that pathology doesn’t just stop in the laboratory and the hospital; it involves public engagement and a cross over to clinical biochemistry, haematology, histopathology and neuropathology too. I love the way the event explained the good and the challenges in the field of pathology. I appreciated the mixture of presentation slides and activities to help engage medical students. I truly relished seeing the progression doctors can make during their pathology career pathway. I would undoubtedly recommend this summer school for prospective and current medical students to gain knowledge about pathology. This event opened my eyes to the profound involvement pathology has with every specialty in medicine and how this field creates the foundation in medicine. I was very honoured to be in the historical Gordon Museum with unique arte- facts of different human body parts.

It’s fascinating to know that pathology doesn’t just stop in the laboratory and the hospital; it involves public engagement and a cross over to clinical biochemistry, haematology, histopathology and neuropathology too.

‘The pathology summer school by far was a great experience for me and a way of getting a better understanding of the avenues in pathology. I can gladly say after the summer, I gained a better insight about pathology and a career option I am taking into consideration. I’m looking forward to gaining further experience in this field and seeing the future advancement in pathology in the coming generation.’

Helena Usuanlele, Queen Mary University of London