Biannual Administration of a Slide Exam to Residents to Prepare them for Board Examinations: A Pilot Effort

ABSTRACT

Introduction/Objective: To enhance surgical pathology education and allow residents to self-assess their progress, a pilot effort was made to twice a year administer a slide exam simulating the microscopic component of the American Board of Pathology anatomic pathology examination to a cohort of residents. Methods/Case Report The subjects were pathology residents in a mid-size academic program typically consisting of 12 residents. The quizzes were held twice a year from fall 2019 to fall 2021. In the fall of 2019, the exam consisted of 20 glass slides with accompanying history for which the residents were required to provide a free text diagnosis. After the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the exam was transitioned to virtual microscopy using whole slide imaging similar to the board exam. The answers of the trainees were graded in comparison to the clinical diagnoses. The residents' opinions of the exercise were anonymously assessed via a survey. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Overall, resident performance roughly correlated with post-graduate year with a gradual improvement in performance every year. All residents agreed (with 84.1% of them strongly agreeing) that this exercise benefited their education. After two years of seasonal examination, there was an increasing trend showing more residents, including junior ones, becoming more confident in their preparation for the anatomic pathology board exam. Conclusion(s) Though the sample size in this study is small, it demonstrates that regular administration of a slide exam to residents can be used to help residents assess their progress and help them feel more confident in their preparation and training for board exams.