Program Director's Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of LAC+USC Medical Center and Keck Hospital of USC take very seriously the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our hospitals carefully monitor and follow the guidelines of the CDC, the State of California, and the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

We have moved most in-person meetings such as morning conferences, tumor boards, and departmental meetings to virtual format. County meetings are being held through Microsoft Teams, and the daily morning conferences, resident and fellow interviews are being conducted through Zoom meetings.

Residents and Fellows are provided access to adequate and appropriate PPE. We have N-95 masks that are fit-tested and several Personalized Air Purifying Respirator suits (PAPR) at both hospitals. The resident and fellow office area in the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory are spaced to achieve social distancing between microscope stations.

At LAC+USC Medical Center, we feel that it is vital to the learning process of Pathology residents and fellows to have the ability to double scope with the attending staff or fellow, as there is an active and real-time exchange of questions, ideas and thoughts that can only be achieved on a teaching microscope. We achieve social distancing by restricting which microscope heads can be used, so that the attending staff and the resident or fellow are approximately 6 feet apart from one another. Consensus Conferences are conducted daily at the LAC+USC Medical Center by using 4K cameras with LCD monitors. We have upgraded various monitors in our sign-out areas to large ultra high-def screens. Everyone at the Medical Center is required to wear a mask and all housestaff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

During the early phase of the pandemic, there were residents and fellows in Pathology who volunteered to perform testing on patients under investigation. Fortunately, those early days are behind us. Our rotations have returned largely to in-person training as before. There remain some rotations where it is possible for residents to telework as arranged between faculty and resident. The Program also supports telework options for trainees who must stay home to isolate for COVID-19.

We are committed to the safety of our residents, fellows, faculty, and staff during times of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.

Rosemary She MD
Program Director
Pathology Residency Training Program