Maximizing Limited Resources in Pathology Education

1
Maximizing Limited Resources in Pathology
Education

• Roger W. Geiss, M.D.
• GRIPE Winter 2007 Meeting
• Tampa, FL
• January 13, 2007

2
Characteristics of the University of Illinois
College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP)

• Community-based medical school
• One of four campuses of U of I College of
  Medicine
• 50 students/class (M2-M4)
• High degree of dependence on clinical (volunteer)
  faculty
• Low level of state support

3
UICOMP Department of Pathology

• Faculty
• full-time 2
• part-time 2
• volunteer 19
• FTEs
• 1996-7 3.5
• 2006-7 2.5

• Contact hours (2005-6)
• full-time faculty 108
• part-time faculty 47
• volunteer faculty 61

4
Challenges

• Decrease in number of full-time faculty
• Increased pressure on volunteer faculty to
  generate clinical income
• Authority over volunteer faculty rests with
  hospitals and private practice groups
• Increased pressure on full-time faculty to engage
  in research
• Very limited funds for critical needs
• faculty development
• maintenance of equipment
• Need to make up for deficiencies in M1 year
• No pathology residency program
• Possible future expansion of class size (50 ? 62)

5
Solutions

• Past/present
• longer work hours for full-time faculty
• lecture-heavy curriculum
• lectures 116 hours
• laboratories 62 hours
• small-groups 2 hours
• independent study 2 hours
• use of multiheaded microscopes in laboratories to
  minimize number of lab instructors needed
• engagement of non-pathologist faculty to teach
  pathology
• use of teaching assistants (M3, M4 students) in
  laboratories
• Future (some culture change required)
• team-based learning
• expanding/strengthening use of learning
  objectives
• faculty and student guidance
• promotion of independent study
• Wish list
• additional full-time faculty
• increased involvement by (certain segments of)
  volunteer faculty

6
QUESTIONS?

• ANSWERS?