Abstract

ABSTRACT Background.Our objective was to assess the educational benefits of a formal pathology rotation during an obstetrics and gynecology residency program and to determine the utility of this information in clinical practice. Methods.In this descriptive study, the benefits of a 2-month rotation in pathology for obstetrics and gynecology residents were analyzed. A computerized listing of surgical cases processed by each resident was sent to the obstetrics and gynecology program director. Results.Our resident accessioned 5.4% of the total pathology cases processed each month. Reports from previous residents (over a 17-year period) and from program directors at the annual educational retreat indicate that such information was not relevant to our graduates in their clinical practice. Conclusions.A formal pathology rotation for obstetric residents can improve knowledge base, but the usefulness of this knowledge in clinical practice is dubious.