Over the years, Doris Schuler-Maloney, M.S. has presented lectures and workshops to healthcare professionals around the country, about the importance of and techniques for placental triage in the birthing room and gross examination of the placenta in Surgical Pathology.

Members of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA), Iowa chapter of Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Iowa chapter of American College of Nurse Midwives, national members of American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), National Society of Histotechnology (NSH), and National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) have participated in Doris's workshops.

The following topics were typically covered:

• placental development
• pertinent aspects of pregnancy
• gross features of the normal placenta
• variations of gross features of the normal placenta
• gross placental abnormalities
• common microscopic abnormalities as they correlate to gross placental pathology
• techniques of placental triage/gross placental examination
• clinical-pathological correlations based upon maternal, fetal and placental indications for placental examination
• impact of placental examination on malpractice litigation on behalf of neurologically impaired children, such as those with cerebral palsy

The lectures and workshops were presented in dual-medical format, using two slide projectors to simultaneously project dozens of high quality gross photos of fresh and formalin fixed placentas, detailed schematics and photomicrographs. In addition, when appropriate, formalin fixed placentas are on-site for a hands-on wet lab.

The presentations were exceptionally audience-friendly. Because the goal was at least in part to teach observational skills and descriptive terminology, throughout the presentation workshop participants were challenged to describe what they saw on the projected slides, with group discussion of the gross features and correlation to clinical significance. Questions were encouraged throughout the presentation as well.

Comments from previous presentations include:

• Ms. Schuler-Maloney is an excellent speaker - wonderful presentation. Excellent!
• Best of conference!
• Good teaching aids!! Nice to have hands on experience of placentas; very nicely done. Motivating to improve our practice.
• Doris's excitement about the placenta is contagious.
• Very well coordinated and presented.
• The information was presented in a clear and concise fashion.
• Professional presentation.
• Well spoken and very organized.
• Great slides. Doris's energy and interest appreciated.
• This is need to know information.
• An excellent, informative presentation.
• Doris was very knowledgeable, and presentation was excellent and very easy to understand although WAS challenging.

Doris worked as a Pathologists' Assistant at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa for 25 years, after graduating from the University of Maryland at Baltimore with a Masters Degree in Pathology. She has lectured to medical students, medical technologists, cytotechnologists, X-ray technician , emergency medical technicians and paramedics, pathologists' assistants, histotechnologists, Pastoral care interns, perfusionists, and nurses on a variety of pathology topics including the placenta, autopsy and the Jarvik Heart. Doris has also written numerous articles on various pathology topics, including Placental Triage of the Singleton Placenta published in the March/April 2000 issue of the Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, Volume 45, Number 2, pages 104-113. She is also one of only two, 3 time winners of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants Newsletter Award.