Looking for the best online resources to boost your knowledge in pathology? Whether you’re a medical student, resident, fellow, or practicing pathologist, the right tools can make all the difference. We’ve compiled a list of the top 12 online pathology learning resources, presented in alphabetical order.
1. Digital Diagnostic Digest
The Digital Diagnostic Digest is quickly becoming an invaluable resource for anyone interested in digital pathology. With a focus on topics like adoption, AI integration, and advancements in diagnostic tools, the Digest serves as a bridge between cutting-edge research and practical application. Whether you’re a pathologist, medical student, or industry professional, it provides a mix of educational content combined with real-world case studies and expert commentary, making it a must-read for anyone looking to stay ahead in the fast-evolving world of digital pathology.
2. Elsevier ExpertPath
Elsevier ExpertPath is a paid subscription platform curated by global experts that offers high-quality resources for pathologists. Unlike many free alternatives, ExpertPath ensures that the content is continuously updated and comprehensive. Many residency programs even offer subscriptions for their residents. Features include:
- 77,000+ normal pathology images with expert annotations
- 5,200+ common and complex diagnoses
- Specimen handling protocols and best practices
- Differential diagnosis and ancillary testing lists
- Prognosis and therapeutic information
- Normal histology topics
3. H&E Life
Cindy Wang, MD, is a board-certified anatomical pathologist and a clinical assistant professor of pathology. She has a great YouTube channel called H&E Life. On this channel, she shares her experiences in medicine, what it is like to be a pathologist, and what it takes to become a pathologist. Her goal is to educate and inspire medical students. Her content includes upsides and downsides to pathology, insights on the pathology job market, tips for residency and fellowship, resources, diagnostic walkthroughs, salary expectations, and live question-and-answer sessions.
4. KiKo: Knowledge In, Knowledge Out
KiKo (Knowledge In Knowledge Out) is a next-generation platform revolutionizing digital pathology education. Founded in 2019 by Jonhan Ho, KiKo allows users, including physicians, trainees, and medical students, to upload and share digital slides through whole-slide imaging (WSI), creating accessible educational content. The platform has gained popularity within dermatopathology, with experts like Jerad Gardner creating educational libraries and case discussions. KiKo also introduced KiKo Case Reports (KCR), a peer-reviewed digital journal for rapid communication of unique clinical cases. While still evolving, KiKo is positioning itself as a key tool in digital pathology education, offering a collaborative space for global knowledge-sharing and learning.
5. Kurt’s Notes
Dr. Kurt Schaberg, an anatomic pathologist at UC Davis, created Kurt’s Notes to share valuable learning resources. The site offers diagnostic guides, examples of reporting for various subspecialties, practice quizzes, and more. It’s an excellent go-to for pathologists seeking practical resources to improve their skills. His website includes:
- Diagnostic reference guides for a range of conditions commonly encountered by anatomic pathologists
- Examples of diagnostic reporting and comments for a wide range of subspecialties
- Practice quizzes
- Helpful links to scanned slide collections, guides created by Stanford Pathology, interesting cases, board preparations, templates, and books and articles he uses in his practice and mentorships
6. Libre Pathology
Libre Pathology is an open wiki-based pathology knowledge resource. Michael Bonert, a staff anatomic pathologist, founded the project in 2014 to make pathology information accessible to every person with internet access. The site contains a collection of simulated cases, practice quizzes, general pathology educational information, and helpful links.
7. Path Elective
Path Elective offers free, self-paced clinical, anatomic, and molecular pathology courses. While it doesn’t offer CME credits, the platform provides comprehensive modules, textbook references, review notes, and videos created by experienced professionals. It’s perfect for medical students, residents, and anyone eager to learn about diagnostic medicine at their own pace. The founders believe that learning about pathology and laboratory medicine can benefit everyone. Through this elective, they aim to foster a community of learners and teachers who will help advance the field of pathology and medical education.
8. Pathology Organizations
Pathology organizations play a crucial role in advancing the field of pathology by providing education, advocacy, and digital resources to professionals across various subspecialties. One of the leading organizations is the College of American Pathologists (CAP), which offers a wide range of educational tools, guidelines, and resources for pathologists to stay current in their practice. The Digital Pathology Association (DPA) is another significant organization that focuses on advancing the adoption and implementation of digital pathology technologies. Additionally, organizations like the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) offer networking opportunities, conferences, and continuing education to pathology professionals, fostering collaboration and innovation. These organizations, among others, contribute significantly to the growth and development of pathology as a specialty and provide vital resources for those involved in this essential field of medicine.
9. Pathology Outlines
Pathology Outlines is a comprehensive, regularly updated online surgical and clinical pathology textbook that serves as an essential learning tool for pathologists and medical professionals worldwide. It offers an extensive collection of resources, including links to images (gross, microscopic, and clinical), virtual slides, and scholarly references, all designed to be easily accessible without requiring login or registration. The textbook covers clinical and surgical pathology topics in-depth and includes separate sections on immunohistochemical stains and CD markers, ensuring a thorough approach to pathology education. Additionally, Pathology Outlines features a global directory of pathologists, offering filters by location, subspecialty, and institution. For those looking to advance their careers, it includes job listings by subspecialty and location, fellowship opportunities, and pathology-related conferences, with links to further details.
10. Pathology Podcasts
For auditory learners, there are numerous excellent pathology podcasts to tune into, including:
- Digital Pathology Today
- Digital Pathology Place
- PathPulse: Pathology Innovators in Action
- Beyond the Scope
- PathPod
11. #PathTwitter
Twitter is a hub for the pathology community, with professionals sharing histology slides, research, and educational content. By following the hashtag #PathTwitter, you can stay connected with pathologists worldwide, see unique cases, and find valuable resources. Many pathologists also share “tweetorials” to help with your studies.
12. WebPathology
WebPathology is a free educational resource with high-quality pathology images of benign and malignant neoplasms and related entities. The website has more than 11,500 images of surgical pathology, high-quality gross specimen photographs, and photomicrographs. In addition, each image discusses pertinent clinical and pathologic features. It also includes illustrations showing molecular pathways in various cancers, including sites of targeted intervention.
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