General Histopathology
The trainee Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist must spend the equivalent of one year in a general histopathology department during the first three years of training and before the Part 1 FRCPath examination. The training period need not be a continuous period of secondment, but can be achieved flexibly. However it is recommended that periods of time should be of sufficient length to allow the trainee to fully assimilate into the department and to participate in the full range of educational and training opportunities (e.g. taught sessions, black boxes, MDTs) undertaken by general pathology trainee colleagues.
The trainee is expected to have a good working knowledge of systemic pathology and especially of those lesions and conditions which may affect the head and neck. It is therefore desirable that the trainee gains a broad experience in a number of areas of general pathology which may include lymphoreticular pathology, soft tissue pathology, dermatopathology, bone pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, endocrine pathology, cytopathology.
Competencies in this area are hard to define and the range of skills and expertise acquired will vary according to local circumstances, but trainees will be expected to acquire a range of competencies and expertise in appropriate areas which are equivalent to their general pathology colleagues. It is expected that during the period of training in general pathology they will have an educational supervisor in general pathology and will be exposed to the same assessment processes as other trainees.
The following table gives guidelines for the levels of expertise and knowledge expected of the trainee.