Purpose
A multidisciplinary tumor board-based elective was designed to expose 4th-year medical students to the consultative role of pathologists within the patient care team. This two-week elective is conducted on a remote platform, allowing scheduling flexibility and access to a large number of students. Our goal is to increase students’ observation of collaborative decision-making, highlighting the contribution of the pathologist.

Methods
Students are required to attend all tumor boards, conducted via WebEx. Students select one patient from each tumor board for written entry into a “Learning Journal.”The entry includes learning points regarding the patient’s presentation, clinical evaluation, and surgery/pathologic diagnosis. Students reflect on how the multidisciplinary approach guides staging, post-surgical therapies, and prognosis. After tumor board, students meet remotely with the presenting pathology resident/attending to review the slides and pathology reports from the patients that were presented. Students view a module on TNM staging and attend all resident didactic lectures, also conducted via WebEx.

Results
Between July 2020 and June 2024, ninety-four (94) 4th-year medical students completed this course. Students either agreed or strongly agreed that the course was well-organized (91%) and tumor board discussions were educational (89%). They expressed increased familiarity with TNM staging (91%) and an appreciation for the role of Pathology in the multidisciplinary approach to patient care (95%). Best features included experiencing how different specialties collaborate to reach patient care decisions, self-directed learning, and the flexible, virtual format. Many students commented on the one-on-one slide review after tumor boards as being a highlight.

Conclusions
Multidisciplinary tumor boards provide an opportunity to expose students to real-time, collaborative decision-making and demonstrate the valuable consultative role pathologists play in patient care teams. The flexibility of a virtual, remote format with incorporated independent study appeals to students and increases the Pathology department’s access to students during the clinical years.