She gets 16 pelvic exams a day – so yours don’t hurt
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>Molly Callahan, a gynecological teaching assistant, helps medical students practice pap smears and breast exams</p><p>On her busiest days, Molly Callahan, has 16 speculums inserted into her vagina. She works full-time as a gynecological teaching assistant (<a href="https://clinicalpracticeresources.com/">GTA</a>) – a layperson who helps medical students practice pap smears and breast exams before they work with actual patients.</p><p>It’s not as unpleasant as you might think. In fact, the point is to help students learn how to do it without causing discomfort. Contrary to common belief, pap smears – tests that screen for cervical cancer – don’t have to be painful.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-interactive/2026/nov/13/pap-smear-pain-medical-students">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Molly Callahan, a gynecological teaching assistant, helps medical students practice pap smears and breast examsOn her busiest days, Molly Callahan, has 16 speculums inserted into her vagina. She works full-time as a gynecological teaching assistant (GTA) – a layperson who helps medical students practice pap smears and breast exams before they work with actual patients.It’s not as unpleasant as you might think. In fact, the point is to help students learn how to do it without causing discomfort. Contrary to common belief, pap smears – tests that screen for cervical cancer – don’t have to be painful. Continue reading...
Curation & Context
This page summarizes a public news report from The Guardian. Global News Hub provides the "Why This Matters" takeaway using editorial insights and AI curation to give readers rapid, high-value context before they click through to read the full article.