What is the typical day for an LGG fellow? Is there anything special?
There's no such thing as a "typical" day for an LGG fellow. Every day brings a fresh set of challenges and opportunities, making the fellowship a dynamic and enriching experience.
Let's imagine you're on a molecular rotation, focusing on test assays, result analysis, interpretation, and report drafting. Here's a glimpse into what your day might look like:
8:00 AM: Gearing Up for the Day Upon arriving at the lab, you check your email for updates from supervisors or directors and the list of assays scheduled for the day. While you wait for the clinical genetics grand round, you analyze any available test results.
9:00 AM: Clinical Genetics Grand Round
Time to put on your thinking cap! Today, you are a presenter for the Clinical Genetics Grand Round and present clinical cases of Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome. You discuss test results, relevant research findings, and updated guidelines for the disease testing and result interpretation.
10:00 AM: Lab Huddle and Benchwork
Upon returning to the lab, you attend a lab huddle to stay informed about daily operations. A quick check-in with lab technologists clarifies your benchwork responsibilities and schedule time for learning new assay setups. You might spend the morning setting up testing assays and observing another, actively expanding your technical skillset.
12:30 PM: Lunch Break (with a Bonus!)
Today's your lucky day! You grab lunch at a departmental seminar featuring a guest lecturer. Bonus points for the free meal, but remember, you have a leukemia board at 1 PM!
1:00 PM: Leukemia Board
The hematology-oncology team discusses recent complex patient cases. You join the discussion, summarizing your findings and assuring them of the final report will be finished by the end of the day.
2:00 PM: Back to the Bench
It's time for the next step in the morning's assay setup. Once completed, you return to analyze and interpret the remaining test results. Today's lighter workload allows you to draft reports before the sign-out session.
3:30 PM: Sign-Out Session: The service director leads the sign-out session. You provide summaries for each case, including patient demographics, diagnosis, test rationale, results, and interpretation. Some cases are straightforward, with the service director approving your drafted reports. Others may require further investigation or additional report comments, necessitating revisions.
5:00 PM: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
After incorporating the feedback, you return to your desk to finalize reports. Some may be submitted by the day's end, while others require further work for tomorrow. You tackle a mountain of follow-up emails, including a few from research collaborators seeking feedback and reminders about your assigned tasks.
7:00 PM: Helping Hands
Evenings often find late-shift technologists facing challenges. As a fellow, you step in to assist when needed, fostering a collaborative lab environment.
8:00 PM: Home Stretch (but not quite)
Dinner and relaxation beckon, but work calls too. You dedicate time to a research manuscript and prepare slides for tomorrow's interesting case conference.
Dynamic Active Learning Day of LGG Fellow
This glimpse into an LGG fellow's day highlights the dynamic nature of the program. Each day brings a blend of laboratory work, clinical case discussions, research involvement, and opportunities to develop your communication and presentation skills. It's a demanding yet rewarding journey that prepares you for a fulfilling career in Laboratory Genetics and Genomics.