CAPcasts

Like many live events in 2021, the CAP’s Multidisciplinary Breast Pathology (MBP) Advanced Learning Series will be a virtual event (capatholo.gy/3zgIFaW). Taking place over the week of Oct. 25-Oct.31, the curriculum, led by faculty and live expert panels, consists of five pre-recorded lectures in advance of the Virtual Workshop live sessions. The event, which qualifies for 18.5 CME credits, is designed for pathologists with intermediate or higher skill level in breast pathology, as one of the course instructors, Dr. Bradley Turner explains further in this CAPcast interview. Dr. Turner is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.

The three functions of grossing, staging, and reporting are fundamental to the practice of surgical pathology; yet no surgical pathology text has ever discussed these three functions in an integrated manner. A new book entitled Grossing, Staging, and Reporting–An Integrated Manual of Modern Surgical Pathology (https://capatholo.gy/3CDPciq) promotes a standardized approach for practicing pathologists, pathologists-in-training, and pathologist assistants who handle specimens, explains the author Jim Zhai, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast episode.

Between 2014 and 2018, microbial contamination of blood products was the third leading cause of transfusion-related fatality. Platelets are more likely than other blood products to become contaminated because they are stored at room temperature. In 2019, the FDA updated requirements for bacterial mitigation strategies, which will result in significant changes to how platelets are manufactured, explains Alexis Peedin, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast interview. Dr. Peedin led the development of a CAP Clinical Pathology Improvement Program course on this topic (https://capatholo.gy/3wHYMwC).

In a recent panel discussion, CAP Speaker of the House of Delegates Kathryn Knight, MD, FCAP; CAP President Patrick Godbey, MD, FCAP; and Council on Government and Professional Affairs Chair Jonathan Myles, MD, FCAP, talked about the implications of patients who postponed their care because of the pandemic, the potential issues laboratories could face as they return to seek treatment, and what roles pathologists will have in patient care as we move past the pandemic.

Common questions arise in the daily practice of surgical pathologists who sign out medical liver, explain Maryam K. Pezhouh, MD, FCAP, and Meredith E. Pittman, MD, FCAP, in the CAPcast. Drs. Pezhouh and Pittman will be teaching a course on this topic at CAP21, which will be held Sept. 25-28 (www.capannualmeeting.org). Using case-based presentations, the faculty will facilitate discussion on a range of common but difficult topics in medical liver biopsy.

Burnout adversely affects pathologists’ quality of life and their ability to practice high quality patient care. It can lead to medical errors and increased malpractice risk, professional turnover, and significant morbidity as well as mortality, as Marisa Saint Martin, MD, FCAP, explains in this CAPcast.

Dr. Saint Martin will be one of the leaders of a CAP21 course on this topic; the course is entitled, “When the Fire is Gone: Strategies to Reignite Your Resiliency.” For more information on CAP21, which will be held Sept. 25-28, please visit capannualmeeting.org. And be sure to follow #cap21 on social media for event updates and news.

Transitioning from training to new in practice is a very tough phase for many pathologists. Identifying critical skills needed for success and developing them during training can help to ease the move into practice, explains Juanita Evans, MD, FCAP and Lauren King, MD, FCAP in this CAPcast. Drs. Evans and King will be leading a course on this topic at CAP21, which will be held Sept. 25-28 both virtually and in-person in Chicago. Be sure to follow #cap21 on social media for event updates; learn more and register meeting: https://www.capannualmeeting.org/.

Introducing low titer O whole blood or LTOWB into blood bank inventory can introduce challenges, including the logistics of maintaining and optimizing inventory and fulfilling regulatory requirements. That said, LTOWB can serve to improve massive transfusion workflow and potentially improve patient outcomes in patients undergoing massive transfusion, explain Julie Katz Karp, MD, FCAP, and Julie Cruz, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast. Drs. Karp and Cruz are teaching a course on LTOWB at CAP21, which will be held Sept. 25-28: www.capannualmeeting.org.

Diagnosing soft tissue tumors can be a significant challenge, even to the experienced surgical pathologist. In recent years, the diagnostic options available to diagnose soft tissue tumors have expanded dramatically, following the discovery of molecular alterations that underlie the pathogenesis of soft tissue tumors, explains Jason Hornick, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast.

Dr. Hornick will be teaching a CAP21 course on this topic entitled, “Limited Biopsies of Soft Tissue Tumors: A Pattern-Based Approach to Diagnosis.” For more information on CAP21, which will be held Sept. 25-28 both in-person in Chicago and virtually, please visit capannualmeeting.org and follow #cap21 for updates via social media.

The numbers speak for themselves. Women represent more than 80% of the workforce but less than 20% of leadership in healthcare. Sadly, the number of women in leadership has not changed significantly in the last two decades, explains Dr. Jennifer Hunt, who will be teaching a CAP21 course entitled, “Reversing the Gender Leadership Gap: Taking Action to Create Meaningful Change.”

Dr. Hunt currently serves as Chair of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Florida and has held numerous other professional leadership roles. She has recently released her first book, “Unlocking Your Authentic Self” which has helped thousands of female professionals achieve self-confidence and conquer the impostor syndrome.

CAP21 will be taking place Sept. 25-28; for more information, please visit www.capannualmeeting.org.