Philosophy

The mission of LSU pathology residency is to provide broad educational experience for the training and guidance of our residents in compliance with the ACGME program requirements, to train and graduate residents who are competent and proficient in every aspect of patient care pertaining to our discipline. Our goal is to mentor residents so that they have a wide knowledge base, with experience in academia including scholarly activities such as teaching, conference presentations,  research and publications.          

The role of a pathologist is to contribute to patient care by acting as a diagnostic medical consultant providing diagnoses by interpretation of specimen material in the anatomic and/or clinical laboratory.  In addition, pathologists contribute to the knowledge data base regarding disease by analysis of data from patient care or through experimentation and observation.  Finally, the pathologist is an educator, teaching students, residents, allied health professionals and other physicians.  The residency training program provides instruction and experiences that enable trainees to acquire skills necessary to become competent in each of theses roles in all areas of anatomic and clinical pathology.

To accomplish these goals, the program provides training in skills, cultivates critical thinking, develops managerial expertise, and increases communication abilities so that the trainee may become a successful and independent practicing pathologist.  In addition, the program promotes the acquisition of skills and insights needed to evaluate, adapt, and incorporate new techniques and methodologies as they become available.           

Responsibility for attaining these objectives falls on both the resident and faculty.  The resident must perform assigned duties, read texts and current literature regarding encountered disease processes, acquire experience in technical and managerial aspects of the laboratory, expand communication skills, and grow into the role of educator.  The resident must practice self reflection and develop an awareness of their own strengths as well as their areas for improvement.  A successful resident is wholly aware of his or her own blind spots.  The faculty must aid the residents in attaining these objectives, critically and honestly evaluate them, allow them to assume graduated responsibility as they grow in knowledge and expertise, take part in didactic education, and provide an educational milieu that includes mutual professionalism and respect.