Goals and Objectives

Diagnostic and Patient Care Activities

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Become fully competent in processing lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues.	Proper triaging of the tissue for routine histopathology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular genetic analysis. Understanding the importance of tissue also as a key resource for investigational studies and for evaluating the efficacy of future treatment modalities.
To perform bone marrow biopsies and bone marrow aspirations.	The actual procedure. Ordering/performing the appropriate stains on smear slide preparations (Wright–Giemsa staining or other Romanowsky–type of staining, and special stains, such as Iron stain, MPO, etc.) Accurately evaluating and interpreting them.
Perform, evaluate and correctly interpret a variety of laboratory results.	Flow cytometry immunophenotypic data. Automated CBC results, such as RBC, WBC and platelet counts, as well as hemoglobin concentrations. Automated and manual differential white blood cell counts. Routine coagulation tests (PT, PTT, fibrinogen, thrombin time). Tests for hemoglobinopathies. Work–ups of patients with platelet dysfunctions.
Develop expertise in the correct morphologic identification of hematopoietic and lymphoid proliferations.	Distinction of hemato/lymphoid cells from non–hematopoietic cell types. Distinction of benign from malignant hemato/lymphoid cells. Recognition of the influences of processing (different fixatives, freezing artifacts, etc.) on the morphologic appearances of different cell types.
Evaluate bone marrow aspirate and peripheral blood smears and recognize the variety of cell types and stages of maturation.	Bone marrow differential counts. Evaluation of red cell and white cell morphology. Identification of malignant and hematopoietic cell populations.
Be familiar with the concepts and principles of gene product expression and detection, and to understand the current applications of molecular biology in diagnostic pathology.
Be able to coordinate all the pathological information obtained in order to reach a final diagnostic conclusion.	Developing skills in correlating gross, microscopic, immunophenotypic and molecular genetic findings. Evaluating all of these pathologic parameters in the context of the clinical, radiographic and other laboratory findings. Understanding the role and limitations of routine morphology, immunophenotyping and molecular/genetic techniques and therefore recognizing the appropriate order of these studies in a diagnostic laboratory.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Learn to function as a laboratory consultant to the clinical physicians.	Communicating accurately the results of the pathologic evaluation and the diagnostic conclusions. Discussing additional or alternative biopsy procedures and their role in reaching a diagnosis. Developing the skills of presenting the results of all studies to the clinicians at a clinicopathologic conference.

Medical Knowledge and its Application

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Establish a long life habit and method of collecting and studying the relevant literature and reach the ability to critically evaluate and compare published material.	Using technology to manage information. Support own education and facilitate the learning of students and other health care professionals.

Systems–based Practice

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Develop an understanding of the organization and function of the different technical sections of the laboratory, and to practice cost–effective laboratory utilization and resource allocation that does not compromise quality care.	An understanding of how hematopathology services and other professional practices affect other health care professionals and organizations.
Develop an understanding of quality assurance and quality control issues relative to clinical hematology/ anatomic/ hematopathology/ immunopathology/ molecular pathology.	Using appropriate controls for each test performed; initiating and maintaining stringent quality control measures in all aspects of hematology, and paying special attention to particle counters. Making sure instruments and technologists are consistent through effective quality control procedures.

Professionalism

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Develop the habits leading to excellence in professional performance.	Perfect attendance to all laboratory activities. Reliability in each assigned duty. Completeness of the work–up of each case. Dedication to patient´s care. Maintaining correct and cordial relationships with laboratory and clerical personnel, with attendings and with other fellows and residents.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

Goals and Objectives:	Includes:
Locate, appraise and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to the division cases.	Obtaining and using information from the division experience and the larger population from which specimens and cases are drawn.