PathMD

I’m not sure where this year has gone, but here I am at my 10^th and final rotation site – PathMD in Los Angeles, California.

PathMD is a private lab, aligned with UCLA and Miraca, providing pathology services to clients throughout the country, primarily Southern California.  The lab is relatively new and started accepting specimens in September of 2012. The Director of Operations, a pathologists’ assistant, had major input in designing the laboratory. As a result, the lab is state of the art with beautiful Thermo Scientific equipment and a well-designed layout.  In addition to the gross room, the lab also houses histology, cytology, and billing offices.

The lab processes specimens primarily from outpatient procedures and averages around 13,000-14,000 cases annually. The typical workday will include grossing GI biopsies, nasal contents, skins, EMC/ECC, and hysterectomies. Occasionally, the lab receives breast specimens, thyroids, salivary glands, gallbladders, and tonsils. All the specimens are grossed in the lab and then sent out to be read by board certified pathologists.

The lab is extremely generous and provides the PA students with housing for the duration of their rotation - an apartment in walking distance to the lab.  They also provide our flights to and from Los Angeles.  The environment at PathMD is really positive and lively; everyone has been awesome to work with.  They also made a really well done YouTube video describing the workflow in the lab.

Loving the sunshine during the walk to work every day

Trips to the beach have been an added bonus!