The Informatics rotation is served at the UC Davis Medical Center under the supervision of a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine professor who also serves as a faculty member in the Health Informatics graduate program, Michael A. Hogarth, M.D.  The resident will be exposed to state-of-the-art electronic health information archiving and real-time virtual imaging.  The resident’s experience will encompasses two basic themes:

  • Clinical laboratory informatics
  • Electronic imaging in anatomic pathology and telepathology. 

Regarding clinical laboratory informatics, the resident will learn core health informatics concepts related to laboratory information systems.  Specifically, the resident will gain fundamental knowledge of the following:

  • Basic principles of computer system architectures
  • Computer networks
  • Data standards (HL-7v2.x and HL-7v3)
  • Computer security
  • Coding/terminology systems (UMLS, SNOMED CT, LOINC)
  • Essential IT project management principles

Within the theme of electronic imaging in pathology, the resident is given an in-depth exposure to digital imaging and is expected to become familiar with whole slide scanning of pathology images as well as basic concepts relevant to digital imaging in pathology (resolution, capture method, image storage/archiving).  The resident also learns about telepathology and prevailing literature regarding its use in anatomic pathology.  During the rotation, the resident is tasked with operating the whole slide scanner and is expected to enter several cases into a digital anatomic pathology archive.