Training Residents in Genomics

Training Residents in Genomics (TRIG)
In 2010, TRIG was formed through the Pathology Residency Directors Section (PRODS) of the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC; now the Association for Academic Pathology (AAPath). The goals of this group, made up of experts in medical education, molecular pathology, and clinical genetics, are to develop teaching tools, and promote genomic pathology education. The TRIG Working Group represents a unique collaborative effort in pathology education with members from many major pathology organizations and representatives from the National Society of Genetic Counselors, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.

In addition to conducting workshops at the annual meeting of major pathology organizations, an Instructor Handbooks/Toolkit and online modules are available for local implementation of training. 
Over 35% of pathology residency programs in the US use TRIG resources
1 %
“Before attending the workshop I only concentrated on learning the technical aspects like NGS data interpretation and bioinformatics. After attending the workshop, I realized that as a physician there is much more to learn like understanding the clinical relevance of variants and interpreting them in the context of the disease and conveying the information to the clinician and patient in a meaningful way is crucial for me as a pathologist.”
WORKSHOP TESTIMONIAL

Resources

Instructor Handbook and Toolkits

The TRIG Working Group Genomic Pathology Workshop Instructor Handbook and Toolkit provides the materials and guidance needed to implement a structured and field-tested introductory genomic pathology/oncology curriculum. The curriculum consists of approximately seven hours of instruction and uses a team-based learning approach.  Participants work in small groups to answer case-based questions and learn principles related to the development of genomic assays and interpretation of results. There is also practical hands-on instruction with the use of online genomic pathology tools.  The instructor leading this workshop does not need to be an expert in genomics; however, some background in molecular pathology/oncology is recommended. The first version of these materials was released in 2014 with a revision in 2019. The current version, released in 2025, includes actual genomic testing reports and digital slide review. Links to Google forms are also provided that allow learners to more easily review exercise questions, access online resources and record their answers and notes. Published studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the live workshops (see Evaluation page).  Successful workshops have been conducted for both trainees and practicing pathologists.

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Online Modules

A series of online modules have been created to simulate a team-based learning (TBL) experience offered at the in-person TRIG workshops (link to workshops page). The first version, released in 2016, was shown, in a study at 10 pathology training programs, to significantly improve genomics knowledge and the ability to utilize online genomics tools. The current version, released in 2020, includes cases, variants and websites in the 2019 version of the TRIG curriculum.

Following introductory information providing the curricular framework, each of the four core modules consist of the following components:

  • An instructor-delivered 15-30 minute interactive PowerPoint lecture that allows the participant to answer preparation questions and review content needed to undertake the TBL activity.
  • A 30-45 minute activity simulating the TBL environment. The participant answers questions with their “team” and learns the use of online genomics tools through guided simulation.
  • An instructor-delivered 15-30 minute PowerPoint lecture presenting answers to the activity questions. At the end of the final module there is also a summary of the key concepts.

These modules provide an enjoyable educational experience that successfully translates the in-person workshop to the virtual environment.

Click the download button to to access these materials for free.

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Working Group and Staff

Working Group Members
  • Richard L. Haspel, MD, PhD (Chair)
  • Lisa Browning, MD
  • Devon Chabot-Richards, MD
  • Lisa Dixon, MD
  • Alix D'Angelo, MCG, CGC
  • Marie DeFrances, MD, PhD
  • Siddhartha Devarakonda, MD
  • Pedro Fernandez, MD, PhD
  • Jonathan Genzen, MD, PhD
  • Michael Hurwitz, MD, PhD
  • Lynette Sholl, MD
  • Bijal Parikh, MD
  • Erik Nohr, MD
  • Keith Stringer, MD
  • Chad Vanderbilt, MD
  • Kalnisha Naidoo, MBBCh
  • Cynthia Powell, MD
  • Pamela Gibson, MD
  • Jason Karamchandani, MD
  • Zara Herskovits, MD, PhD
  • Susan Hsiao, MD, PhD
  • Wei Song, MD, PhD
  • Pamela Gibson, MD
  • Phillip Michaels, MD
  • Suzanne Ziemnik
  • Devon Cortright
  • Meredith Engel
  • Ryan Soles
  • Jay Wagner
  • Osiris Rojas
  • Kenneth Landgraf
  • Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS)
  • American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
  • Association for Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)
  • American Society for Clinical Pathology
    (ASCP)
  • Association for Molecular Pathology
    (AMP)
  • Association for Academic Pathology (AAPath) Program Directors Section (PRODS)
  • Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP)
  • College of American Pathologists (CAP)
  • Health Education England (HEE)
  • International Academy of Pathology (IAP)
  • National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC)
  • Royal College of Pathologists UK
  • United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP)
  • Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica (SEAP)

Please note that the materials provided on the website are not specifically endorsed by any of the cooperating organizations listed above.