Focus Cytology Tutorials
Focus Cytology is a series of tutorials. The concept was created in 2007 out of a need in Cytology in New South Wales to have specific tutorials aimed at pathologists and cytologists who wish to upgrade their skills in cytology and increase their confidence. These are advanced tutorials and a working knowledge of cytology is a pre-requisite.
Focus Cytology is ‘small group’ learning with a limited number of participants (a maximum of 18) and consists of lectures, multiple multi-header sessions, self-paced review of annotated slide sets, and one-on-one learning and discussion at the double-headed microscope.
There are two tutorials per topic – one for pathologists, and another for cytologists and registrars. The inaugural Focus Cytology Tutorial is a broad spectrum one – covering all aspects of Gynaecological Cytology, over 3 days. Further tutorials will focus on separate topics, hence ‘Focus’.
The lectures and multi-header sessions are presented by our Training Officer Ron Bowditch, senior cytologists and pathologists.
Ron has been at Laverty Pathology since 1983 and has always been involved in the teaching and training of both cytologists and pathologists. Ron is a key participant in the various trials and audits we do; he has co-authored many papers in medical journals, and is a peer reviewer. He is very involved in our in-house Quality Assurance programmes, and is the main presenter at our monthly in-house Scientific Meetings. Ron has been on the Australian Society of Cytology (ASC) Board of Education, and was the first non-medical chairman of the NSW Branch of the ASC (2002 – 2004). Ron is well known throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia for his workshop series “Challenges in Cytology” held in conjunction with the NSW Cervical Screening Programme. In 2004 he was the project officer for the National Training Syllabus for Cytologists writing the programme provided by the working party and ASC Board of Education. This syllabus is now widely used by labs nationwide preparing cytologists for their competency examination. Ron has also been a regular presenter at the Annual ASC Conferences held around Australia, and is frequently a guest speaker at other international Cytology Conferences.