Perceived readiness for practice of current and former anatomic pathology residents in Tanzania

One of the proposed primary barriers to high-quality pathology services in Sub-Saharan Africa has been the variability in pathology training. In this study, we evaluated the perceived readiness for practice of current and former anatomic pathology residents at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania. An online survey evaluating perceived readiness in the ability to perform core professional competencies in anatomic pathology was distributed to previous and current Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences pathology residents. The survey had 30 of 45 (67%) respondents, which included current and former residents. More than 95% of participants either strongly agreed or agreed that the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences training program prepared them to perform grossing, surgical pathology report writing, fine-needle aspiration, and effective interdisciplinary consultation. Fewer participants were confident in activities related to laboratory management. The program's major strength was the exposure to a large number of cases, while weaknesses included a small number of faculty, insufficient mentorship, and limited infrastructure. Current and former trainees of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences pathology residency program overall felt that their training prepared them for independent clinical practice. Additional training in laboratory management should be considered.