Broadening Our Scope: A Pilot Curriculum in Bioethics for Pathology Graduate Medical Trainees, the Emory University Experience

Abstract

Despite mandates from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Pathology, little guidance is available for educating pathology trainees on bioethics. We endeavored to describe the development and implementation of a pathology-specific pilot curriculum in bioethics for pathology trainees at Emory University. After institutional review board review and exemption, we performed a literature search on pathology and ethics, conducted an intradepartmental survey for ethics topics relevant to our trainees and faculty, and referenced the Pathology Milestones related to ethics to develop the framework and materials for the pilot curriculum. The curriculum consisted of 2 introductory and 3 topic-focused sessions over 14 months moderated by pathology faculty with interest and expertise in ethics. Sessions included a short didactic component followed by small group discussions of cases created by the investigators. Surveys were administered to participants before and 16 months after completion of the curriculum. Twenty-nine pathology trainees participated in the curriculum. In baseline surveys, 93% (27/29) of participants believed that ethical dilemmas occur in pathology practice; 62% (18/29) reported having either experienced one or more ethical dilemmas themselves or knowing a pathologist or pathology trainee who had experienced one. In postcurriculum surveys, 87% (13/15) of respondents reported having learned something new, 92% (12/13) anticipated applying this knowledge to pathology practice, and 81% (13/16) would recommend it to a pathology trainee colleague. Limitations include single institution, small sample size, and limited outcome measures for ethics education. Our curriculum may serve as a model for other pathology training programs.