The Bulletin of the Royal College of Pathologists Number 193 January 2021 In this issue Celebrating the pathology workforce and securing its future RCPath Foundation taster event and Foundation Fellowship scheme Higher Specialist Scientific Training: preparing healthcare scientists for consultancy roles Diversity and inclusion – time for real and permanent change International Pathology Day: COVID-19, future vision and sharing knowledge Also in this issue: The Royal College of Pathologists Delivering exams in a pandemic Pathology: the science behind the cure National Pathology Week round-up Coronaviruses: ready for the next one? The Royal College of Pathologists CONTENTS Pathology: the science behind the cure JANUARY 2021 NUMBER 193 EDITORIALS 248 INTERNATIONAL 286 From the Editor 248 Infection through the lens of COVID-19: From the President 249 an international viewpoint 286 CELEBRATING THE PATHOLOGY WORKFORCE TRAINING 288 Esther Youd: Celebration in challenging times 252 From Summer School to The second RCPath/BDIAP Foundation taster histopathology trainee 288 event and the Foundation Fellowship Scheme 254 A matter of life and death: redeploying Higher Specialist Scientific Training to the mortuary during COVID-19 290 in pathology: an overview 256 WORKING SMARTER 292 Diversity and inclusion: a College perspective 261 A district general hospital’s robust Making diversity and inclusion matter at the response to the COVID-19 pandemic 292 National School of Healthcare Science 263 CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS 294 COLLEGE NEWS 265 Re-auditing the use of the CURB-65 score 294 Delivering high-stakes examinations PEOPLE 297 in a pandemic 265 Appreciation: Dr Edward Ilgren 297 A Vice President reflects 268 Appreciation: Professor Ian Talbot 298 Leaving the comfort zone for the bigger picture 269 Anthony Nolan's tireless mission 299 Professionalism: the foundation Deaths reported to Council 300 that supports pathology 271 Consultants: new appointment offers 301 Improving the job description review service 273 Examination results 302 Pathology Portal: the journey so far 275 REVIEWS 308 ON THE AGENDA 276 Book reviews 308 COVID-19 and lessons from the animals: Advances in Transfusion Medicine: a true One Health approach 276 a virtual conference 310 SHARING OUR SUBJECT 279 NOTICEBOARD 312 Pathology: at the heart of healthcare – Legacies 312 a round-up of National Pathology Week 2020 279 College conferences 314 Journey of a biopsy in pictures 281 CPD-accredited events 314 The Royal College of Pathologists The social mobility path to 6 Alie Street, London E1 8QT a career in medicine 282 Showcasing pathology careers T: 020 7451 6700 E: [email protected] during the pandemic 283 www.rcpath.org Art of Pathology competition 285 President Dr Mike Osborn Vice Presidents Professor Sarah Coupland Dr Angharad Davies On the cover: Heroes by Professor Peter Johnston Johnny Ma Kwok, winner of Registrar Dr Lance Sandle the 2020 Art of Pathology Assistant Registrar Dr Esther Youd competition, 11–17 category. Treasurer Dr Andrew Boon CEO Daniel Ross Bulletin Editor Dr Shubha Allard Disclaimer: Authors’ views are personal and are not indicative of College policy, except when College Officers write in their official capacity. Errors or admissions are the responsibility of the Interim Editor Brian Burns authors alone. Advertisements are paid for by external agencies and do not indicate endorsement or otherwise by the College. Editorial & Digital Manager Stacy Baxter www.rcpath.org Number 193 January 2021 247 EDITORIALS EDITORIALS From the President Hello and welcome to the January 2021 Bulletin. the many members actively supporting so many From the Editor This is my first Editorial as president and it is essential College activities. a great honour to be able to speak to you directly. As a profession, we can be forgotten and Welcome to the January 2021 Bulletin. What an conferences (International Pathology Day, pages The Bulletin is a great way to highlight the diversity, ignored, eclipsed by what some perceive as more exceptionally stressful year, culminating in a 286–287, Transfusion symposium, pages 310–311). professionalism and achievements of you all, our glamorous and news-grabbing specialties. At the rather non-festive and muted seasonal break with Similarly, delivering National Pathology Week fantastic pathology workforce. College we are working hard to overcome this and many other uncertainties yet to come. within the constraints of lockdown with even more to signpost the achievements of our members. I am of course delighted with the Bulletin theme verve and creativity than before truly demonstrates Thanks In November, we announced the RCPath of ‘Celebrating the pathology workforce’, which our great reserves and resilience (pages 279–280). When celebrating our workforce, the first thing I Achievement Awards 2020. Open to teams and would like to do is thank Professor Jo Martin for individuals from all pathology backgrounds and seems a particularly apt title to start this year. You I also read with considerable interest Simon Dr Mike Osborn no doubt agree that we need to recognise efforts Priestnall’s informative article ‘COVID-19 and her excellent tenure as president. Jo’s presidency disciplines, the awards highlighted the huge range and contributions across pathology, including lessons from the animals: a true One Health was especially marked by our move to a great of fantastic achievements by our members and both medical and scientific disciplines, at various approach’, which urges closer collaboration new building and then by COVID, the pandemic their colleagues in allied professions. Dr Shubha Allard stages of seniority, from different backgrounds between veterinary and medical scientists, clini- that has affected us all. I hope that the end of the Some were individual achievements, others and across the many specialties. I hope the various cians and pathologists to help us predict and better pandemic is now in sight. were awarded to teams and groups, but all demon- articles in this edition give a flavour of this intent prepare for emerging infections (pages 276–278). Jo expertly steered the College through these strated a fantastic contribution to pathology in all and going forward we will need your help and This is surely good advice that needs to be heeded? stresses and we are in a good place thanks to its forms – be that through teaching, research or continued input to this effect. The pandemic has had a major impact on the her. I would also like to thank the previous service provision. We are certainly encouraging young talent essential work being undertaken by charities, with Vice Presidents, Rachael Liebmann, Shelley The winners are truly inspirational and an into pathology with great efforts at the founda- the considerable funding shortfall also affecting Heard and Tim Littlewood, who have helped Jo example to us all, and to those outside pathology, tion level (pages 254–256) and it is good to see the Anthony Nolan (pages 299–300). The new Chief achieve this and who have worked exhaustively of the huge contribution you make to healthcare activity by members in promoting interest and Medical and Scientific advisor outlines his vision for the College and us, its members. in this country and beyond. Well done to everyone awareness around careers bearing fruit (‘From for steering this charity towards its key goals at I would also like to recognise the contribu- who entered the competition and to all the winners. Summer School to histopathology trainee’, pages the core of the transplant community in the UK tions of our many members who have been, and 288–289). I am greatly impressed by progress of and globally serving patients of all backgrounds continue to be, involved in College activities. Your COVID the training program developing consultant clin- needing a matched donor. time and expertise support the College, members The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rule our lives ical scientists (pages 256–259), with this pathway The year 2020 will go down in history like no and healthcare as a whole. The College and the at home and at work, and it would be wrong for me now open to many more biomedical scientists. other for many of us in our lifetime so far. Our profession could not function without you. not to mention it. We should congratulate ourselves Other articles across this edition demonstrate innate optimism must urge us to look forward for all the work we have done in combating this the multitude of efforts supporting the work- and, of course, there is much on the horizon to be Condolences terrible outbreak, which has touched all parts of the force in so many different ways (‘Celebration in hopeful about. The new year has brought the sad news that our world. Every one of you has contributed in some challenging times’, pages 252–253). This ranges Innovation in testing, vaccine development, past President, Professor Sir Peter Lachmann, died way, whether directly by involvement in testing for from continuing professional development and education and learning and the sheer speed on Boxing Day. COVID-19, through redeployment into other areas supporting recruitment (pages 271–274), to the of delivery of high-quality clinical trials have all Professor Lachmann was an eminent immu- needing help or by picking up the extra workload frankly heroic efforts of the Learning department been breathtaking, with pathologists playing an nologist who made numerous significant associated with the healthcare backlog – a particular and, indeed, College members as examiners in essential role. contributions to healthcare and medicine, and legacy of the lockdowns. ensuring that examinations did go ahead during We will aim to cover various key ongoing played a major role in the College, including the pandemic (pages 265–267). advances in the Bulletin in 2021. Editions this year serving a term of office as President. We have At the forefront Some of the reflections of the outgoing Vice will focus on further advances in genomics, with sent our deepest condolences to his family, friends A special mention should, however, go to our Presidents also give due acknowledgement to the some other broad themes emerging – namely, and colleagues.