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Velu PD, Cushman-Vokoun A, Ewalt MD, Feilotter H, Gastier-Foster JM, Goswami RS, Laudadio J, Olsen RJ, Johnson R, Schlinsog A, Douglas A, Sandersfeld T, Kaul KL. Alignment of Fellowship Training with Practice Patterns for Molecular Pathologists: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology Training and Education Committee. J Mol Diagn 2022; 24:825-840. [PMID: 35690309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the two decades since Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited Molecular Genetic Pathology fellowships began, the field of clinical molecular pathology has evolved considerably. The American Board of Pathology gathered data from board-certified molecular genetic pathologists assessing the alignment of skills and knowledge gained during fellowship with current needs on the job. The Association of Molecular Pathology conducted a parallel survey of program directors, and included questions on how various topics were taught during fellowship, as well as ranking their importance. Both surveys showed that most training aligned well with the practice needs of former trainees. Genomic profiling of tumors by next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, laboratory management, and regulatory issues were topics thought to require increased emphasis in training. Topics related to clinical genetics and microbiology were deemed less important by those in practice, perhaps reflecting the increasing subspecialization of molecular pathologists. Program directors still viewed these topics as important to provide foundational knowledge. Parentage, identity, and human leukocyte antigen testing were less important to both survey audiences. These data may be helpful in guiding future adjustments to the Molecular Genetic Pathology curriculum and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education program requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya D Velu
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Allison Cushman-Vokoun
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Mark D Ewalt
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Harriet Feilotter
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julie M Gastier-Foster
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Pathology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rashmi S Goswami
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics/Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre/University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Laudadio
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Randall J Olsen
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | | | | | - Karen L Kaul
- Molecular Genetic Pathology Curriculum Update Working Group of the Training and Education Committee, Association for Molecular Pathology, Rockville, Maryland; NorthShore University HealthSystem, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Evanston, Illinois.
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Tashkandi H, Verdoni A, West M, Yatsenko S, Swerdlow SH, Aggarwal N. Enhancing Molecular and Cytogenetic Fellow Education With an Integrative Hematopathology/Molecular Genetic Pathology Joint Conference. Am J Clin Pathol 2022; 158:112-121. [PMID: 35142790 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To overcome the challenges associated with molecular and cytogenetic (MG) education in hematopathology (HP), a monthly joint HP/MG conference with specific curricular goals was established and evaluated by the participants. METHODS All cases from the HP/MG conference over 56 months were reviewed. To assess the educational impact, a survey was distributed to current/former HP/molecular genetic pathology fellows and faculty. RESULTS During the study period, a total of 252 cases covering MG testing considered important for HP fellowship training were presented. The 100 most recent cases since 2018 discussed findings of diagnostic (85%), prognostic (40%), or therapeutic (10%) importance. A broad range of technologies were discussed such as karyotyping, cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization studies, microarrays, polymerase chain reaction-based tests, next-generation sequencing, and Sanger sequencing. Twenty-three (95.8%) of 24 survey respondents agreed that the conference achieved all of its goals, and all agreed it was worth implementing. CONCLUSIONS This educationally based HP/MG conference supplements existing rotations, didactic presentations, and consensus case conferences and enhances MG education in HP without excessive time commitment or need for extensive in-house MG testing. It also contributes to enhancing HP knowledge among the MG faculty and fellows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad Tashkandi
- Division of Molecular and Genomics Pathology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - MaryAnn West
- Pittsburgh Cytogenetics Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Steven H Swerdlow
- Division of Hematopathology, Department of Pathology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nidhi Aggarwal
- Division of Molecular and Genomics Pathology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Hematopathology, Department of Pathology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Nogueira BMD, Machado CB, Montenegro RC, DE Moraes MEA, Moreira-Nunes CA. Telomere Length and Hematological Disorders: A Review. In Vivo 2020; 34:3093-3101. [PMID: 33144412 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres compose the end portions of human chromosomes, and their main function is to protect the genome. In hematological disorders, telomeres are shortened, predisposing to genetic instability that may cause DNA damage and chromosomal rearrangements, inducing a poor clinical outcome. Studies from 2010 to 2019 were compiled and experimental studies using samples of patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies that reported the size of the telomeres were described. Abnormal telomere shortening is described in cancer, but in hematological neoplasms, telomeres are still shortened even after telomerase reactivation. In this study, we compared the sizes of telomeres in leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome and lymphomas, identifying that the smallest telomeres are present in patients at relapse. In conclusion, the experimental and clinical data analyzed in this review demonstrate that excessive telomere shortening is present in major hematological malignancies and its analysis and measurement is a crucial step in determining patient prognosis, predicting disease risk and assisting in the decision for targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Maria Dias Nogueira
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Caio Bezerra Machado
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Raquel Carvalho Montenegro
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisabete Amaral DE Moraes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Caroline Aquino Moreira-Nunes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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