Mersey
Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology
Training Programme Director
Dr George K. Kokai, FRCPath
Consultant Paediatric Pathologist Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
& Honorary Lecturer in Paediatric Pathology University of Liverpool
Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK
Tel (direct): 0151-293-3656
Fax: 0151-293-3617
Website: http://alderhey.com
As one of the two centres providing routine Foetal Perinatal and Paediatric Pathology service in the North West region, Department of Paediatric Histopathology at Alder Hey Hospital NHS Trust also take leading role in Undergraduate and Postgraduate education, by training future Paediatric Pathologists, General Histopathologist‟, Foundation Doctors and other professionals.
This is happening through our regular teaching and educational activities in various forms:
Training Paediatric Pathologists – Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology currently have 2 vacancies. The entry requirements for Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology training programme is at ST3 level following satisfactory completion of at least Stages A and B of the Histopathology programme including passes in the Year 1 Histopathology assessment and Part 1 FRCPath examination i.e. normally at ST3 level.
The Royal College of Pathologists anticipates that three years would normally be required satisfactorily to complete the Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology curriculum plus two to two and a half years of General Histopathology training to the required depth and breadth and achieve a CCT.
Following successful completion of training, a CCT will be awarded in Paediatric and Perinatal Pathology.
If anyone interested please contact Dr George Kokai or Dr Jo McPartland on 0151 293 3656
Over the past ten years we regularly managed to appoint trainees in paediatric pathology from ST2 or ST3 stages. All of them successfully passed Part 2 exam with distinction and have been appointed as consultants. Dr Jo McPartland and Dr Rajeev Shukla are highly regarded colleagues at Alder Hey.
Drs Annavarapu and Hurrell have been promoted to their consultant posts in Newcastle most recently, where they have been shaping up and developing a foetal/perinatal and paediatric pathology service for the North-East region by implementing the highly efficient service model from Alder Hey in Liverpool.
Paediatric Pathology Study Day - as a part of their regular training all trainees attend this one day intensive course (held usually in April) during which several theoretical lectures are presented about the most important topics of this subspecialty.
Likewise, they take part in a practical session/workshop organised to cover the very basic and most important part of our service related activities, including „live‟ performance of autopsy and placenta cut up. The slide seminar is also a part of this teaching day during which trainees are actively involved with discussion on previously circulated slides in order to make a correct diagnosis of the most important placental lesions. The feedback received so far from attendees rates this study day as extremely practical, useful and highly enjoyable.
Contribution to MSc course in Pathology – as part of our commitment and collaboration with John Moores University all Pathology disciplines (including Paediatric Pathology) contribute to a Study Day held at Alder Hey with lectures on Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy/SUDI, Paediatric tumours and interesting and instructive case discussions.
Placements for rotation in Paediatric Pathology for General (Adult) Histopathology Trainees - part of our teaching and educational activities includes offering placement for rotation for General Histopathology Trainees, according to the College curriculum.
Every year 3-4 trainees spend their slot (usually 3 weeks or more) on rotation in our department. During this time all trainees are given opportunity to take part in our routine daily surgical and autopsy work, and to attend various MDT meetings.
The popular highlights during their placement is studying a collection of teaching slides (>1000 cases selected) which represent the most typical, rarest of difficult cases we came across during our routine service work in a past.
Contribution to induction programme for Foundation Doctors - using our thirty minutes presentation slot we introduce Paediatric Pathology to all generations of young doctors who rotate through Alder Hey. This helps them to become aware of this service and the benefit they may have from using it during diagnostic process. They are asked to use proper, timely, patient related and direct communication with Paediatric Pathologists whenever tissue diagnosis is needed on their patients.
This lecture of introduction has been found most useful to most of young doctors at the beginning of their career. This is proven by the fact that many of them voluntarily and as a matter of their preference take part in a special afternoon teaching session dedicated to Paediatric Pathology and practical issues related to the proper use of this service.
Dr George K. Kokai, FRCPath
Consultant Paediatric Pathologist Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
& Honorary Lecturer in Paediatric Pathology University of Liverpool