Veterinary Pathology Professor Frightens and Enlightens Students

Writing today’s Article about how oncology (cancer) patients’ cases are worked up I was reminded of a really funny story that happened when I was a second-year student at Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

On our first day of Pathology class our professor, Dr. Aaron Groth came into the Monday afternoon classroom, dimmed the lights, lowered the projector screen and said, “Take out a sheet of paper, put your name at the top and number the left side 1 through 10.”

We did as we were told, but we were terrified. There had been no warning, no assignment to read the first chapter of our Pathology text, no stories from upperclassmen.

Dr. Groth pushed a button and the first slide fell into place in the projector, illuminating a photo of a mass of some kind. “Next to number one, write your diagnosis.”

The exercise continued through ten slides over a five-minute time period, at which time Dr. Groth said, “Fold your papers, pass them to the left, then you’re dismissed until Wednesday. I’ll have your test scores then.”

We were further terrified. It would be forty eight hours before we would know our fates from this nightmare.

Wednesday at 1:00 PM sharp Dr. Groth passed out the graded papers and simultaneously announced the range of scores. “The best score was four right out of ten, 40%. That’s an F. There were a few 30s, some 20s, a lot of 10s and a lot of 0s. They are all Fs.

“I gave you this test to illustrate a point. So that you will relax and hear what I’m about to say next I’ll tell you this doesn’t count against your semester grade. Even the best score in the class was an F. After I’ve taught you all I can in a year about Pathology, you still won’t be able to score much better by looking at a growth with the naked eye. You need a biopsy to make a definitive diagnosis. Never forget that.”

I haven’t.

See you tomorrow, Dr. Randolph.

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