Doris Schuler-Maloney, M.S. offers 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 are typically covered:

bulletplacental development
bulletpertinent aspects of pregnancy
bulletgross features of the normal placenta
bulletvariations of gross features of the normal placenta
bulletgross placental abnormalities
bulletcommon microscopic abnormalities as they correlate to gross placental pathology
bullettechniques of placental triage/gross placental examination
bulletclinical-pathological correlations based upon maternal, fetal and placental indications for placental examination
bulletimpact of placental examination on malpractice litigation on behalf of neurologically impaired children, such as those with cerebral palsy

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

Comments from previous presentations include:

bulletMs. Schuler-Maloney is an excellent speaker - wonderful presentation. Excellent!
bulletBest of conference!
bulletGood teaching aids!!  Nice to have hands on experience of placentas; very nicely done. Motivating to improve our practice.
bulletDoris's excitement about the placenta is contagious.
bulletVery well coordinated and presented.
bulletThe information was presented in a clear and concise fashion.
bulletProfessional presentation.
bulletWell spoken and very organized.
bulletGreat slides. Doris's energy and interest appreciated.
bulletThis is need to know information.
bulletAn excellent, informative presentation.
bulletDoris was very knowledgeable, and presentation was excellent and very easy to understand although WAS challenging.

Doris has been working as a Pathologists' Assistant at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa since 1983, 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, 2 time winners of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants Newsletter Award.

bulletClick here to contact Doris Schuler-Maloney, M.S. about speaking at your institution or to your group, about placental triage or other placental topics.
 
NANN Sept 2000
NSH Sept 2000
ACNM May 2000  
 
© 2001 DSM PathWorks, Inc.
To contact us: placenta@netins.net.
DSM PathWorks, Inc., P.O. Box 33, St. Mary's, IA    50241
last updated 06/26/2005