Academic Pathology Departments and Associated Children’s Hospitals: An Overview of the Relationship

Abstract

A survey of academic pathology departments was conducted in order to evaluate the relationship with their associated children’s hospitals. Forty percent (88) of US children’s hospitals were associated with academic pathology departments. Sixty percent of pathology department respondents indicated that their children’s hospital was part of their academic health system. As a reflection of this, the majority (54%) of all respondents reported that their children’s hospitals were physically located within the academic health care system itself. Accordingly, a vast number (94%) of academic departments reported that they performed the clinical services for those children’s hospitals that were part of their academic health system. For those associated children’s hospitals that were not part of the academic health system, 70% of respondents reported that the academic pathology department provided at least some clinical services for them. The number of pathologists in the children’s hospital pathology departments that were not part of the academic health system ranged from 1 to 5 (41%), 6 to 10 (18%), and >10 (41%), with one-third having salaried faculty appointments in the academic pathology department. The chief of pathology in those children’s hospital departments was part of the academic department leadership team in half of the cases. Although 86% of respondents reported that pathology residents rotate through the associated children’s hospital, in only 26% of instances did the children’s hospital provide resident support for the academic pathology department. The perceived strengths and weaknesses of the relationship between academic pathology departments and associated children’s hospitals are discussed.

The Relationship Between Medical School–Based Pathology Departments and Affiliated Forensic Pathology Training Sites

“…Medical school–based departments are enriched by affiliations with external entities that enhance the missions of the department (eg, Veterans Affairs healthcare systems and children’s hospitals). 1 , 2 Affiliations with medical examiner/coroner offices are unique due to the fact that the training experience they provide is offered in no other environment, making these affiliations particularly important to the pathology department’s educational mission. The importance of these training sites may be further amplified by the shortage of forensic pathologists.…”

“…A survey was then prepared and e-mailed to the chair and the administrator of each thusly identified medical school department of pathology using contact information available through the Association of Pathology Chairs membership directory. Because the survey intent was to evaluate the relationship between medical school–based pathology departments (as was the case in the author’s 2 prior studies 1 , 2 ) pathology departments located in affiliated, but not medical school based, AHCs were excluded. A 4-week turnaround time for e-mailed response was suggested, and 2 reminders were sent prior to the deadline date.…”

“…This may be particularly true for those institutions and departments that are medical school based because it is conceivable that they may lack the resources, opportunities, and flexibility of community-based entities. In prior publications, this author has demonstrated the positive impact of affiliated Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems 1 and children’s hospitals 2 on medical school–based pathology departments. An equally significant external partner is the office of the medical examiner/coroner, which serves as a major forensic pathology training site for most academic pathology departments.…”

Retaining the Value of Former Department Chairs: The Association of Pathology Chairs Experience

“…These include issues and opportunities identified by Senior Fellows following service as a chair with reflections on their life after being a pathology chair 12 -14 ; a review of the most common questions asked of Senior Fellows by current chairs 15 ; advantages and disadvantages of serving as a temporary pathology chair 16 ; advice on how to deal with deans and medical center leadership 17 ; and the relationship of academic departments of pathology with their affiliated Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems 18 and their associated children’s hospitals. 19…”

“…These include issues and opportunities identified by Senior Fellows following service as a chair with reflections on their life after being a pathology chair [12][13][14] ; a review of the most common questions asked of Senior Fellows by current chairs 15 ; advantages and disadvantages of serving as a temporary pathology chair 16 ; advice on how to deal with deans and medical center leadership 17 ; and the relationship of academic departments of pathology with their affiliated Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems 18 and their associated children's hospitals. 19 Ongoing and planned projects include a survey study of women leaders in academic pathology and the particular issues they face; creation of a Senior Fellows directory with demographic information and answers to selected questions about their careers; production of webinars and discussion roundtables on leadership during crises; enhancing faculty productivity and increasing departmental effectiveness; preparation of manuscripts on historical aspects of academic pathology; and development of mentorship programs for medical students interested in pathology with special emphasis on attracting underrepresented minorities to the discipline.…”