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Some aspects of the educational program apply whatever the resident's current lab assignment may be; for example, on-call responsibilities, teaching duties, and conference attendance. Intermittent responsibilities include participating in surveys as an observer and inspector, and working with committees. On-call duties begin in July of the first year and are detailed in the orientation program; both AP and CP duties exist. Educational responsibilities also begin in the first year and are usually in full swing by August 1; these include conference presentations, medical student lab and autopsy teaching, medical technologist teaching and optional funtion as a tutor in the medical school's problem-based, or "parallel" curriculum. Conferences, especially those conducted by the pathology department, are an integral part of the program, and attendance is required whenever the resident's primary assignment permits.
Virtually all residents are involved in clinicopathologic research: case-based studies. The faculty consider such research essential to understanding of the scientific method and one's appreciation of the difficulties of establishing a fact. Individual faculty members will be suggesting projects to each resident during their period of working together. Projects will range from a report of a single case through studies of large numbers of cases. Others may involve the development of methods within one of the laboratories. Additional possibilities exist for residents with special interests or qualifications; bench-level research generally involves working with a mentor whose labs and supplies can be used for the work. This generally requires more than the time available in one rotation. Elective time may be used for research.
Facilities:
The medical school's Department of Pathology faculty is also the pathology staff of the North Carolina Baptist Hospital, to which it is attached physically as well as in operation. There are approximately 300 people in the department at various levels. The Cellular Imaging Core, a major center for ultrastructural studies, is equipped with an intermediate-voltage transmission scope, plus conventional transmission and two scanning scopes. A full range of modern equipment supports the routine and research activities of the department. The department's Sections on Comparative Medicine, Lipid Sciences, and Tumor Biology share the graduate programs and other research facilities, including a modern and well-equipped primate facility on another campus.
Each resident occupies private office space in the departmental office equipped with a desk, microscope, file cabinets, and bookshelves. Personal computers at each desk are networked to the library, laboratory, hospital database, and to the internet.
Financial Support:
Stipends levels are set in May prior to the beginning of each academic year. Current levels are listed on the House Staff General Information Page; 2007-08 figures are listed below:
- First year: $42,000
- Second year: $43,000
- Third year: $44,000
- Fourth year: $45,000
The chief resident recieves an additional $1,000 a year. There is an annual fund of $1,200 per academic year which an be applied to books, society memberships, journals, courses, or meetings (this fund can be carried over to the next year).
Other Benefits:
The house staff receives malpractice insurance coverage to cover assigned supervised activities of the program effective on the date of appointment. No coverage of moonlightling activities is included. Residents are also eligible for a variety of generous medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance plans (described in detail here). Workers' compensation is also provided. Each first year resident is allowed two weeks of vacation per year; second through fourth year residents and fellows receive three weeks of vacation per year.
Like other medical center employees, residents can utilize the center's child care resource and referral program (a limited number of on-site child care spaces are available), join a credit union, utilize the Employee Assistance Program and Employee Health Services.
Parking is available at no charge, and residents can use the fitness center, receive ticket and other discounts, and reduced prices at the Medical Center's cafeterias.
Additional information about the residency training programs at Wake Forest University Health Sciences and North Carolina Baptist Hospital may be found at the Physician's Services Department's House Staff website.
Wake Forest University Medical School is located in Winston-Salem, NC. Click here to learn about the area.
Evaluation:
Residents' progress in the program is evaluated in accordance with the standards of Wake Forest University School of Medicine; participation in conferences, fulfillment of teaching duties, and performance on quizzes and examinations are important measures of progress. The department also participates in the annual Resident In-Service Examination as produced by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
The pathology faculty's position is that the residents are their junior colleagues, which makes them responsible for the residents' achievements of competence in service, teaching, and research. Residents who find that their activities are not in accord with this intent are encouraged to discuss their observations with the program director. |