Histopathology East - Edinburgh

The histopathology training programme in SE Scotland offers excellent training in histopathology including experience in all major subspecialties. It is located in the Pathology Department in Edinburgh, which is based at two sites, the Western General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The hospitals are approximately 5 miles apart and are served by a (free for staff) hospital bus service.

Histopathology South East

The Western General Hospital (WGH) houses the regional cancer centre and is a tertiary referral centre for the East of Scotland. There is also the regional neurosciences unit, the largest colorectal surgical units in Europe, a GI medical unit with a large inflammatory bowel disease practice, the regional urology unit and the breast unit, in addition to general hospital medical services. The Cancer Research Campaign, MRC Medical Genetics Institutes and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Laboratory are on the WGH campus where there is international expertise in molecular genetics of carcinoma.

The Medical School is based on the Royal Infirmary (RIE) campus where a new research centre is under construction. In addition to general medical services, the regional renal unit, supraregional transplant unit, cardiothoracic, hepatobiliary, upper GI and orthopaedic surgical units, obstetrics & gynaecology are based at the RIE.

There is also the regional Forensic Medicine unit and Children's Hospital which are currently based at different locations. The pathology department in addition provides the diagnostic service for the dental hospital, the eye pavilion, local GPs and the regional maxillofacial and burns units located at St John's Hospital.

The pathology training programme in the SE Scotland provides training in all aspects of histopathology and offers the possibility of sub-specialisation in neuropathology and forensic pathology. The training programme follows the curriculum in histopathology developed by the Royal College of Pathologist and approved by PMETB. The training takes place in a CPA accredited department with a staff of 28 consultants who work in small specialised teams. Experience is provided in immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and molecular pathology as well as routine microscopy.

After an induction period trainees are attached to a specialist team. The rota is cyclical with additional time allocated to autopsies and cervical cytology. The teaching is a combination of apprentice type learning accompanied by formal teaching on a Wednesday afternoon, twice monthly journal club, monthly autopsy case discussion, 'black box' slide club sessions and audit meetings. Trainees participate in the many multidisciplinary meetings both cancer and non-cancer.

Several of the consultant staff have active research projects and participation of trainees in research is encouraged.  All trainees will be expected to develop and complete audit projects and also to participate in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.  Trainees with a particular interest in medical education will have ample opportunity to further this interest.

The pathology department in Edinburgh is friendly and forward looking. Edinburgh itself is a major cultural centre and the Lothian countryside including a beautiful coastline is within easy reach for both domicile and play.